Texas A&M Forest Service responded to a new wildfire Thursday evening in Llano County, making it the third to break out this week.
The Twin Starts Fire is an estimated 420 acres wide and 75% contained. It is located about 3.3 miles south of the 52-acre Slab Road Fire off of E. State Hwy 71, according to the Texas Wildfire Incident Response System map.
Texas A&M said dozers are working in rough terrain but making progress on building a containment line. Crews are also patrolling the area and engaged in mop-up.
The Slab Road Fire is 90% contained and the Sandstone Mountain Fire is 95% contained. Both ignited on Tuesday, May 17.
KEYE-TV CBS 42 Austin
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PHOTOS: Crews continue to battle a wildfire at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.
The Bessey Ranger District said the Road 201 East Fire has now grown to 1,489 acres. Crews worked all night to get the fire under control, but have been unsuccessful. There is a Red Flag Warning in the area and 35 mph wind gusts will be a primary concern for firefighters.
Additional resources are on the way to help with helicopter and air drop operations.
Crews are hopeful that the cooler weather and rain forecasted this weekend will help in their efforts. Officials have closed the forest through the weekend. They will reevaluate on Monday. Memorial Day weekend is still in question. However, they hope to learn more after this weekend.
They are also asking ranchers to hold off turning their cattle over to pasture for now.
KNOP-TV NBC 2 North Platte
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VIDEO: Hundreds of Southern California firefighters gathered near Lake Skinner Thursday afternoon to participate in wildfire training. Part of a much larger operation statewide, the crews made up of more than 400 firefighters with 14 different Calfire agencies, were on hand to practice wildfire control.
They practiced on a 55-acre plot of state land, where they practiced fighting fire with fire - using drip torches, hot-shot flares, handgun-style stubbies and something called a "terra-torch," a flamethrower of sorts that allows the user to create flames in a very specific location, often used on dry weeds and vegetation that act as fuel for wildfires.
"As a strategic goal of Cal fire and for the governor, we try and treat 500,000 acres throughout the state," said Calfire Riverside Battalion Chief Josh Janssen, who detailed how the live fire training was crucial to not only help prevent devastating wildfires, but to prepare crews in advance of the hot, dry summer ahead.
KCBS-TV CBS 2 Los Angeles
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Two New Mexico senators are hoping to prevent more wildfires from happening across the country.
On Thursday, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D - New Mexico) introduced the "National Wildland and Fire Risk Reduction Program Act." The federal legislation would identify and invest in research and development, set up warning and forecast systems, develop observation and sensing technologies, and standardize data collection efforts to improve the nation’s preparedness, resilience, and response to wildfires. The bill is also co-sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D - New Mexico).
"These fires are devastating," Luján said. "It's important that we all volunteer, that we all help, that we pass legislation, that we secure financial support or emergency declarations. Whatever our role is, we all need to do well at it now because families need our help."
KOAT-TV ABC 7 Albuquerque
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A wildfire burning on Simms Mesa south of Montrose Thursday evening is prompting evacuations.
The fire, called the Simms Fire, was first reported at 4:25 p.m. Thursday. It has burned about 370 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Montrose County Sheriff's Office said people living between Simms Mesa Road and Government Springs Road, as well as Wildcat Canyon, should evacuate immediately. Two heavy engines, two Type 6 engines and a fuels crew are fighting the fire Thursday night. Additional resources, including a Complex Incident Management Team, multi-mission aircraft and additional crews, have been ordered.
Simms Mesa is located south of Montrose in southwestern Colorado.
KUSA-TV NBC 9 Denver
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