Update on Hwy 1004 Fire in Buna

Video courtesy of Jeff Siau; photos courtesy of Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, and Kirbyville VFD Captain Jeromy Richardson

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said of the Hwy 1004 wildfire in Buna Monday, "The fire started on Cr 633 otherwise known as Aburey Cole Loop from what we think was a lightning strike".

The massive wildfire was first noticed at around noon on Monday. Initially, Kirbyville Volunteer Fire Department was called out as mutual aid for Buna VFD in what the caller identified as a "huge woods fire that was traveling fast with flames 20 feet in the air". From there, the fire spread Eastward towards Cr 608 and 606.

Allen said that soon the Department of Emergency Management, Texas Forest Service, Tennesee Forest Service, Georgia Forest Service, Evadale Fire, Tri-Community Fire, Roganville Fire, Dewyville Fire, Trout Creek Fire, Newton County Constable Colton Havard and Jasper County Sheriffs Office, Bill Ted Smith and Emergency Management were called out to the scene. An exact acreage is currently unknown but Allen said it's currently reported at 300 acres at this point at it is approximately 75% containment and has definitely slowed.

Currently firefighters are trying to stop any forward movement. Allen said that thankfully, there has been no structural loss. All of it has been in a hunting club between 1004 and 96.

Newton County was set up on homes at first but moved into woods once the fires direction was made clear.