About 10:30 a.m Tuesday Walker County Fire units responded to a reported grass and woods fire off FM 230 just south of the Walker/ Houston County line. Officials believe someone using a brush hog on deer lease may have sparked the blaze on the extremely dry grass and undergrowth. Last year’s drought added fuel to the fire with dead pine trees and dried debris lying on the forest floor. As many as twenty fire lines were cut with dozers only to have the winds push the fire across. At one point as a brush truck was traveling down a fire line flames rolled over the top of them as the pine trees crowned.
About 25 homes in southern Houston County were evacuated but owners were allowed to return just before 9 p.m. when the fire was declared under control. Dozer crews will remain on the scene through the night to watch for hot spots.
