Dec. 10 wildfire contained quickly

By Sam Waller

A grass fire on the Stasney Ranch was contained to 190 acres on Friday, Dec. 10, as firefighters battled windy, dry conditions.

Chief Brad Henry of the Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department said the cause of the fire was undetermined, but firefighters were able to get it under control quickly despite the wind.

“It wasn’t as bad as some we’ve dealt with,” Henry said.

An October fire burned more than 18,600 acres across four ranches in Shackelford and Throckmorton counties.

Henry said Friday’s fire spilled over to the Stanley Ivy ranch, but most of the acreage burned was on the Stasney.

In addition to the Shackelford County Rural and Albany volunteer fire departments, units from the Texas Forest Service and Clyde as well as area equipment businesses helped fight Friday’s fire.

“We had our two fire trucks, and Holland Dozer was there with their motor grader,” Lance Thomas, manager of Stasney Ranches, said. “I think the state guys brought out their bulldozers.”

Both Henry and Thomas said the incident had potential to be much worse.

“We had really high wind and low humidity when it started,” Henry said. “As the sun started setting, the winds laid down and the humidity came up. That helped slow things down.”

Henry said the threat of range fires remains high in the area.

“Everybody needs to stay alert,” he said. “We’re going to have more really high winds and low humidity.”