A wildfire that erupted along State Highway 67 north of Breckenridge has burned 3,025 acres and forced Stephens County officials to declare a local state of disaster, though firefighters had pushed containment to 90% by today. The Bufford Creek Fire ignited around 1 p.m. yesterday and tore north across ranchland in the dry, triple-digit heat that has gripped the region, according to fire officials.
The fire started along the west side of Highway 67 near U.S. Highway 180, then rapidly moved north across Farm to Market Road 1800 and into ranchland brush along County Road 176, according to the Breckenridge Texan. An initial emergency dispatch report indicated the grass fires along the highway may have been sparked by chains dragging from a passing trailer, per a Palo Pinto County ESD1 statement relayed by meteorologist Susana Harbert. Stephens County sits roughly 100 miles west of Fort Worth and about 60 miles northeast of Abilene, according to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, which reported the fire ignited roughly five miles north of Breckenridge.
County Judge Declares Disaster, Invokes Emergency Powers
Stephens County Judge Will Thompson issued a local state of disaster Monday under Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, invoking provisions that let emergency officials control who comes and goes from the affected area and order evacuations if necessary, the Breckenridge Texan reported. Thompson took office in April after county commissioners appointed him to finish the unexpired term of former Judge Michael Roach, per the outlet's earlier reporting. Officials advised residents north and west of Highway 67 to monitor HyperReach, the county's automated emergency alert system, for mass notifications, according to Fox affiliate myfoxzone.com.
Emergency crews and firefighters spent Monday constructing containment lines and securing hotspots around the fire's perimeter to prevent further spread, FOX 4 News reported. By the time of that report, Texas A&M Forest Service officials said the fire's footprint had adjusted slightly to 3,025 acres and reached 90% containment.
Volunteer Departments Led the Initial Attack
Local volunteer fire departments carried the brunt of the first response. The Breckenridge Fire Department worked alongside volunteer crews from Hubbard Creek, Wayland, Caddo and Eliasville, plus strike teams from Young and Palo Pinto counties, the Breckenridge Texan reported. State coordinators backed up those ground crews with heavier aerial assets, deploying a Type 1 Large Airtanker and a Type 3 Airtanker to drop retardant on the advancing fire line, according to the Palo Pinto County ESD1 statement.
Local fire departments have been working alongside Texas A&M Forest Service crews, who are simultaneously fighting multiple wildfires across the state. The agency reported one active wildfire, three controlled fires and 26 contained wildfires statewide, per its website, as cited by FOX 4 News. Emergency officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of smoke or flames immediately to 911.
State Resources Were Already Staged Before the Fire Ignited
The Bufford Creek Fire broke out during a period of heightened statewide alert. The Texas A&M Forest Service had raised the statewide Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to Level 3 in early August, citing growing wildfire complexity, widespread dry vegetation and ongoing resource commitments, according to a statement the agency posted on Facebook. Days before that, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management last Tuesday to activate additional state response assets, including Texas National Guard Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters along with 10 contracted firefighting aircraft, ahead of peak August fire danger, per the Office of the Governor of Texas.
Hot temperatures, low humidity and severe rainfall deficits across the state have created dangerous burning conditions, with the heat and dryness fueling rapid wildfire growth, per FOX 4 News. It's not the first time dry summer heat has forced Stephens County's hand — commissioners reinstated a 90-day countywide burn ban in June 2024 after temperatures exceeded 100 degrees, the Breckenridge Texan reported at the time.
It remains unclear whether any structures or livestock were lost in the 3,025-acre burn area, and the exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed. County officials have not said how long the local disaster declaration will remain in effect as crews work toward full containment.
