FRIDAY UPDATE: As of noon Wednesday, March 26, the Pauline Road Fire that encompassed 2,421 acres, is reported to be 100 percent contained. Texas A&M Forest Service will continue to mop up and shore up the lines over the weekend taking full advantage of the weather that is on their side.
SHEPHERD — The Pauline Road Fire, which broke out Wednesday in the southwestern part of San Jacinto County, is current at 2,000 acres, and officials say it is only 20 percent contained.
According to a post from Justice of the Peace Kim Webb, as of 10:25 a.m. Thursday, March 20, air crews have begun operations over the Pauline Road Fire, and officials ask residents to not hinder air attack operations with drones, which will shut down fire attack operations.
Currently, there are six strike teams and a taskforce on location working to get containment on this fire. Dozers remain on location working hand in hand with firefighters to expand containment lines.
Firefighters from San Jacinto and Montgomery counties, as well as the Texas A&M Forest Service, are battling the blaze.
According to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, fire crews have made significant efforts overnight to protect structures and have successfully protected the area in the path of this massive fire, and currently no structures have received any damage.
Mandatory evacuations have been issued in both Montgomery and San Jacinto counties, and emergency shelters have been set up.
Firefighters expect high winds and low humidity on Thursday will hamper efforts. Those conditions have prompted the National Weather Service to place the area under a red flag warning.
San Jacinto County Sheriff’s deputies have been going door-to-door throughout the affected area asking residents to seek safety, and Shepherd ISD is monitoring conditions to see if it is necessary to release students early.
As of Thursday, the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office continues to assist fire units as needed in addressing active hotspots. Reports indicate that the fire is advancing toward Montgomery County. To ensure public safety during this event, additional patrol deputies have been deployed to the streets.
Also on Thursday, San Jacinto County Judge Fritz Faulkner declared a state of emergency.
According to a release, Entergy Texas is actively monitoring its equipment in San Jacinto County, and emergency planning and response teams are working with local authorities to reduce fire risk in the Cleveland portion of our service area.
Customers in the high-risk area are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of power outages and follow all local or state emergency orders.
Texas A&M Forest Service personnel have responded to 25 wildfires that burned 3,320 acres across the state.
Active Wildfires:
Contained Wildfires (100 percent):
