Stephens Cty. Fires Set by Arsonists
By: Priscilla Luong/Texas Forest Service
Updated: February 9, 2009
Monday, 11 a.m. 
Update
The 40 fires intentionally set in Stephens County are 40 percent contained, according to the Texas Forest Service. Approximately 100 acres have burned.
"We’re going to send a plane over that area today to make sure there are no hot spots," said Jan Amen, an information officer for the Texas Forest Service who is stationed in Abilene for the next week.
Another fire, caused by electrical lines, burned 50 acres near Belle Plain.
There are currently 176 counties in Texas under burn bans.
Sunday, 10 p.m. Update
More than 100 acres burned in Stephens County. Firefighters are calling it the "Stephens County Complex Fires," this was series of 36 fires ranging from small spot fires to 30-acre blazes.
It began at about 9 PM yesterday evening, volunteer firefighters called the Texas Forest Service for assistance this morning. An aircraft and four bulldozers were sent out to help extinguish the flames. When KTAB spoke to the Texas Forest Service this evening, the fire was not contained.
No structures were lost, and at this point, no accidents or injuries have been reported. The cause is still under investigation, but a representative from the Texas Forest Service tells KTAB that arson seems to be the cause.
UpdateThe 40 fires intentionally set in Stephens County are 40 percent contained, according to the Texas Forest Service. Approximately 100 acres have burned.
"We’re going to send a plane over that area today to make sure there are no hot spots," said Jan Amen, an information officer for the Texas Forest Service who is stationed in Abilene for the next week.
Another fire, caused by electrical lines, burned 50 acres near Belle Plain.
There are currently 176 counties in Texas under burn bans.
Sunday, 10 p.m. Update
More than 100 acres burned in Stephens County. Firefighters are calling it the "Stephens County Complex Fires," this was series of 36 fires ranging from small spot fires to 30-acre blazes.
It began at about 9 PM yesterday evening, volunteer firefighters called the Texas Forest Service for assistance this morning. An aircraft and four bulldozers were sent out to help extinguish the flames. When KTAB spoke to the Texas Forest Service this evening, the fire was not contained.
No structures were lost, and at this point, no accidents or injuries have been reported. The cause is still under investigation, but a representative from the Texas Forest Service tells KTAB that arson seems to be the cause.
