Busy Afternoon for Beech Grove VFD Includes Grass Fire, Hit-and-Run Crash, and Downed Tree

Photos Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — The Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department handled multiple emergency calls Wednesday afternoon, responding to a large grass and woods fire, a multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash, and a downed tree that blocked a roadway — all within a span of just over two hours.

Grass/Woods Fire on FM 254 North

At 12:27 p.m., Beech Grove VFD was dispatched to assist Angelina River Fire And Rescue and the Jasper Texas Volunteer Fire Department with a grass and woods fire on FM 254 North.

Responding units encountered a rapidly spreading grass fire that had already extended into nearby wooded areas. Crews also found multiple debris burn piles actively burning, along with several rolls of hay on fire, adding to the complexity of the scene.

Due to fire conditions, additional assistance was requested from the Texas A&M Forest Service, which responded with a dozer unit. A private dozer provided by the landowner was also utilized.

To bring the fire under control, resources included:

• Angelina River Fire and Rescue: 2 brush trucks, an engine, and a tanker

• Jasper Texas VFD: 2 brush trucks and a tanker

• Beech Grove VFD: Brush 11, Brush 12, and 5 firefighters

• The fire was successfully contained at 14.13 acres.

Hit-and-Run Crash on Highway 190 at Dam B Bridge

While still operating on the FM 254 fire, Beech Grove VFD was dispatched at 1:52 p.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on Highway 190 at the Dam B Bridge.

Upon arrival, crews found a white Chevrolet four-door sedan with extensive rear-end damage stopped in the westbound travel lane near the bridge traffic light. Witnesses reported that the vehicle responsible for causing the crash fled the scene, despite sustaining significant front-end damage.

The occupants of the white sedan were assessed on scene and found to have non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported to Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital by Allegiance Mobile Health.

Authorities later located and detained the fleeing vehicle with assistance from the Woodville Police Department until investigating troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety - Southeast Texas Region arrived.

Additional assistance at the crash scene was provided by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office - TX, Martin Dies, Jr. State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife State Park Police, and Dam B VFD.

Hatch's Towing, LLC removed the damaged vehicle, and the roadway remained closed for approximately one hour. Beech Grove VFD responded with Engine 11, Brush 11, Brush 12, and eight firefighters.

Downed Tree on FM 1747

Shortly after clearing the accident scene, Beech Grove VFD was dispatched at 2:51 p.m. to a downed tree blocking the roadway in the 4,000 block of FM 1747.

Firefighters quickly removed the dead tree and reopened the roadway. Beech Grove VFD again responded with Engine 11, Brush 11, Brush 12, and eight firefighters.

Beech Grove VFD officials noted the importance of mutual aid and coordination among local, county, and state agencies in managing multiple emergencies safely and efficiently throughout the afternoon.