Roadside Fires Temporarily Close Highway 63 West Monday Afternoon

Photos Courtesy of Beech Grove VFD

JASPER COUNTY, Texas — Multiple roadside fires forced the temporary closure of Highway 63 West between FM 1747 and County Road 082 Monday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency response to stop the flames from spreading into nearby woods.

According to Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department Chief James Gunter, units were dispatched at 2:35 p.m. to assist Angelina River Fire and Rescue with several grass and brush fires burning along both sides of the highway.

“Arriving units found multiple fires alongside the highway with several burning into the woods,” Gunter said. “Fire attack was initiated and the forward progression of all fires was halted in about 45 minutes.”

For firefighter safety, Highway 63 West was closed to traffic during suppression efforts and reopened at approximately 4:30 p.m.

The response included the Texas A&M Forest Service, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Southeast Texas Region, which deployed a drone for aerial fire surveillance.

In total, approximately 6,000 gallons of water were pumped to extinguish the fires. The Forest Service also plowed fire lines to contain hotspots, and several dead trees that continued burning were cut down to prevent rekindling.

Angelina River VFD responded with two brush trucks, an engine, and roughly 10 firefighters.

Beech Grove VFD responded with Brush 11, Brush 12, Tanker 11, and nine firefighters.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fires remains under investigation.