Wildfire scorches 18,600 acres of ranchland

By Donnie A. Lucas

A grass fire that originated on the Matthews’ Lambshead Ranch quickly raced out of control due to winds in excess of 40 to 50 mph last Thursday, eventually consuming over 18,600 acres on four ranches in southern Throckmorton County and northern Shackelford County.

The Throckmorton Rural Fire Department originally took the lead, but handed coordinating efforts to battle the blaze over to the Shackelford County Rural VFD, according to Shackelford County Rural VFD chief Brad Henry.

Named the “Buck Fire,” the fire was also fought by rural departments from Haskell, Stamford, Albany City VFW, Throckmorton, Woodson, and Eliasville, along with the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but Henry, who is also a resource specialist with the Forest Service, said that it may have been caused by lightning strikes a couple of days prior that smoldered until whipped up by the extreme winds on Thursday.

He reported that no structures were lost in the fire since it occurred on mostly remote ranchland. 

The Forest Service activated six strike teams from around the north central part of the state, providing assistance with back fires and also aerial support.

“It was a very difficult time with a very large fire,” Henry said. “Thankfully, we had quite a bit of help, and the landowners were patient and allowed us the time to work to control it.”

Henry said that the only damage suffered by the local department was one flat tire.

The fire included the west side of Lambshead, north part of the Nail Ranch, eastern part of the Crooked River Ranch and south portion of the Sloan Ranch.

Henry thanked the local community for donations of food and water for the firefighters, along with lodging for some of the out-of-town personnel.

Albany VFD firefighter Travis Gardenhire said that the city sent its tanker and brush truck, primarily supporting a fire break established on the Nail Ranch to stop the southward spread of the blaze.