The Amarillo Fire Department responded to a reported grass fire in northeast Amarillo Monday evening.
According to preliminary reports from the scene, several tires caught fire, but no building damage occurred.
According to AFD, the fire was located near North Dallas and Sanborn streets near the railroad tracks at around 7:01 p.m., and BNSF had closed the tracks while emergency crews on scene battled the blaze. Six emergency crews responded, including two grass haulers, and a “rehabilitation unit was requested.”
Further information about the fire was not yet available.
On Monday, the Texas A&M Forest Service raised the wildfire preparedness level to Level 3 due to hot and dry conditions in the state and an increase in current and expected wildfire activity across Texas.
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As of August 13, the Texas Drought Monitor map showed Potter and Randall counties in Stage 1 (abnormal drought), with moderate drought in the northeastern part of the Panhandle and Swisher and Hale counties, and severe drought in parts of Briscoe, Hall and Childress, and Motley and Cottle counties.
