DENTON COUNTY, Texas — Officials are working to put out a brush fire near the county line between Denton and Wise counties. No homes or buildings have burned.
The Big Sky Fire is reported near U.S. Highway 380 and Jackson Road in Stony. As of Friday afternoon, the fire was estimated to be 72 acres and 95% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The agency said bulldozers have cut a line around the brush fire, removing grass and other fuels that could reignite. Firefighters are working to "widen and improve that line," a spokesperson tweeted.
"Basically, they're going to cut a road," Denton County Fire Marshall Brad Sebastian said. "They'll do a perimeter around the fire, that way it's controlled no matter what direction the wind blows."
Sebastian said investigators are still trying to determine how the fire started, though it appears to have sparked near U.S. Highway 380. Carelessness is likely to blame, he said.
"Someone probably dragging a chain, throwing out a cigarette butt, or something car-related," he said. "Any of those things can definitely ignite a fire right now."
Big Sky Estates residents watched from their windows as the fire consumed the field across the street from their houses Thursday. The development is new, meaning most neighbors have only lived in their homes for a few months.
"It's really rattling," said Paige Spehar, a first-time homeowner who moved to the neighborhood this spring. "It makes you appreciate all of the things in your life that you have, because they could not be there in a matter of seconds."
This article will be updated when more information is available.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for areas along and west of I-35 until at least 1 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 4. This means any fires could spread very quickly if they get started. It is very hot, dry and breezy in these areas, and drought conditions continue to worsen.
Because of drought and dry conditions, almost all counties along and west of I-35W are under burn bans with more burn bans continuing to be added each day in other parts of North Texas.
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