-
Granite Shoals Fire Rescue crews doused several areas on the perimeter of a fire Feb. 23 which scorched approximately 40 acres on rural property just east of Granite Shoals on RR 1431. Photos by Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
Fire officials confirmed that evidence showed the most likely cause of the fire on Feb. 23 off RR 1431 in Burnet County was a tow chain that caused sparks to jump into the right-of-way. -
By about 10 a.m. Feb. 23 workers on the property along RR 1431 between Granite Shoals and Marble Falls had relocated a number of large hay bales as dozens more went up in flames.
Granite Shoals Fire Rescue responded to calls of a runaway blaze this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 23, on several acres of property, where the fire raced through dry pasture land eventually catching dozens of bales of hay on fire.
The wildfire - with final estimates revealing 40 acres of scorched land - unfolded just after 7:30 a.m. on an area of remote land known as Honeymoon Ranch.
The fire then spread throughout the private property, which backs up to Lake LBJ.
A preliminary assessment blamed a possible cigarette for apparently igniting dry grass on the 1431 right-of-way. However, fire officials confirmed that evidence showed the most likely cause was a tow chain that caused sparks to jump into the right-of-way.
“It was probably started by a chain being dragged by a trailer – the hitch chains. It starts a lot of fires in the summer that way," Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Tim Campbell said.
As the fire spread after 8 a.m, the temperature settled in at 30 degrees with wind gusts reaching up to 17 mph.
“It was on the south side of the road with the wind coming out of the north," Campbell added. "It literally took 15 minutes to burn the whole 40 acres."
As fire crews arrived, motorists could see fire racing through a field of property in an area at least a mile in length along the highway.
There were no reports of injuries or structures damaged. By about 10 a.m. workers on the property had relocated a number of large hay bales as dozens more went up in flames.
Much of the fire in other patches of the property lining RR 1431 appeared contained at that time.