Local agencies are battling grass fires near schools

Multiple Wise County fire departments, along with the U.S. Forest Service and Wise County EMS, responded Monday to a large grass fire at Private Road 5015 at U.S. Business 81/287 South near Decatur High School and Carson Elementary School. BRIAN KNOX | WCMESSENGER

Firefighters from across Wise County responded to the scene of a large grass fire that broke out Monday afternoon near two Decatur ISD campuses.

Susan Gómez, public information officer for the Decatur Fire Department, said the fire broke out around 2:40 p.m. near the Acola residence, located at 1582 Private Road 5015, adjacent to Carson Elementary School.

“The first units arriving on scene reported heavy smoke coming from the area where structures were threatened,” Gómez said in a news release. “…Firefighters arrived at the scene, asked for mutual aid and immediately started extinguishing the grass fire.”

According to Gómez, the fire’s northward progress was stopped around 3:26 p.m., and the fire was brought under control and began intensive fire suppression after about 14 minutes. The Decatur Fire Department was assisted in fighting the fire by firefighters from Bridgeport, Greenwood-Slidell, New Fairview and Paradise Fire Departments, as well as Decatur Police, Wise County EMS and the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire destroyed an outbuilding near the house. No other structures were involved.

Gómez said a Decatur Fire Department firefighter was injured while fighting the blaze and was transported to Medical City Decatur with non-critical injuries.

The fire caused traffic problems at Carson Elementary School as parents arrived to pick up their children at the end of the school day. Additionally, Decatur ISD bus routes were delayed due to the closure of US 81/287 at Hale Street.