At 4:45 Monday afternoon a Texas Forest Service spotter plane was flying south from Livingston when the pilot spotted a large column of smoke to the southwest of Cleveland. Within minutes Montgomery County Fire dispatchers began receiving calls for a large forest fire at the end of North Duck Creek Road.
Cut N Shoot Fire Department , first on the scene reported heavy smoke and fire conditions with restricted access. They requested additional help from Splendora, Caney Creek and North Montgomery County Fire Departments. Also responding was Bear Creek Fire Department from San Jacinto County.
The Texas Forest Service responded with several dozers and helicopters. The U.S. Forest Service responded due to most of the area burning was within the Sam Houston National Forest boundaries.
As ground units fought to contain the fire on the west side other crews were working the west side watching several houses and trying to maintain a line.
Helicopters flew in one after the other to a large stock pond filling buckets with water and flying off to drop along the fire line.
At 8:30 p.m. the fire had been contained to 150 acres but jumped the line. Crews now are attempting to get in front of it with another line.
Winds are blowing at 15mph with gusts to 25mph which is pushing the fire northwest along the Montgomery/San Jacinto County line.
UNEDITED VIDEO WILL BE POSTED LATER THIS EVENING
