Update: Disaster declared for Taylor County as View wildfire moves east toward Buffalo Gap

Laura Gutschke
Abilene Reporter-News

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Abilene Reporter-News is providing free updates on the wildfires as a community service. To support local journalism, visit the ReporterNews.com subscription page to learn more. 

Thursday Live Updates:Latest updates on Mesquite Heat Fire near View and Buffalo Gap.

Correction: Buffalo Gap evacuation remains in effect

UPDATE 11:05 P.M. WEDNESDAY

Officials with the city of Abilene rescinded at 10:41 p.m. on social media an announcement earlier tonight that stated Buffalo Gap residents could return to their homes. 

The evacuation of Buffalo Gap remains in place Wednesday night. 

The new statement said: "Emergency crews continue to urge Buffalo Gap residents to stay away from homes tonight. The evacuation order has not been lifted and homeowners should shelter elsewhere for the night. Crews will reassess tomorrow.

"We apologize for the confusion. - Public Information Office."

The earlier statement said, "Crews are remaining throughout the night to keep a watch on the fire, assist citizens and assist with fire containment."

Taylor County issues disaster declaration

UPDATE 9:15 P.M. WEDNESDAY

Taylor County Judge Downing Bolls Jr. issued Wednesday night a disaster declaration due to the Mesquite Heat Fire, facilitating activation of the Abilene / Taylor County Emergency Operations Plan.

He also signed a mandatory evacuation order for part of the county's southern area that applies to:

  • City of Buffalo Gap.
  • Country Place South to Farm to Market 89.
  • South of Farm to Market 1235.
  • Hillside Road.
  • Denton Valley Road. (Note: This may be a typo and referring to Hidden Valley Road)
  • Braune Road.
  • County Road 297.
  • "Anybody in the vicinity of the fire," the order stated.

In signing the declaration, the judge has "determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property." 

The disaster declaration is in effect for seven days.

Evacuees can go to Lawn Baptist Church, 518 Avenue D, for food or housing, and . Beltway Park Church South, 4009 Beltway South in Abilene, also is an evacuation center, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office reported about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

In addition, the Taylor County Expo Center remains available for animals.

At this time, donations of food and supplies for first responders are not needed, the TCSO stated. 

Wildfire grows to 5,000 acres, forces Buffalo Gap evacuation

UPDATE 8:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY

The Mesquite Heat Fire was moving rabidly east toward Buffalo Gap Wednesday  evening, prompting the Buffalo Gap Volunteer Fire Department at 7 p.m. to advise town residents to evacuate.

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office had advised about 30 minutes earlier on social media for Buffalo Gap residents to prepare to leave the town.

The Texas A&M Forest Service reported on social media at about 8 p.m. Wednesday that the fire had since this morning more than tripled in size to 5,000 acres and was 5% contained. 

"The fire made a major push to the east, crossing HWY 277. Crews are focused on operations related to life safety, structure protection and fireline creation where possible," the forest service said in a social media update. 

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View of the Mesquite Heat Fire southwest of View from the air Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

Mesquite Heat Fire near View jumps containment lines

The wildfire southwest of View has jumped its containment lines on both flanks, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.

"All resources are engaged in reestablishing an anchor and utilizing retardant for structure protection," the forest service said in a Twitter post. 

Residents east of U.S. Highway 277 from Farm to Market 1235/Summit Avenue to Buffalo Gap were being evacuated, adding to the list of evacuations on the west side of the highway closer to View, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office said in a social media update at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

U.S. Highway 277 closed due to View wildfire

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office announced on social media more closures just after 5 p.m. Wednesday because of the Mesquite Heat Fire near View.

U.S. Highway 277 is closed between Farm to Market 1235 and Farm to Market 89 at Coronado's Camp. 

In addition, residents east of U.S. Highway 277 from Braune Road to the rest area are being evacuated. 

Smoke plumes were again visible in Abilene Wednesday afternoon, similar to the smoke that blew toward the city when the fire started Tuesday.

More homes near Mesquite Heat Fire being evacuated

Homes along Braune Road between Hidden Valley Drive and Hillside Road are being evacuated, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office said about 3:43 p.m. Wednesday in a Facebook update.

About 15 minutes later, the TCSO extended the evacuation order to residents on Braune Road from Hidden Valley Drive to U.S. Highway 277 and all of County Road 297 to leave. 

Fire activity southwest of View has increased in the afternoon with the increased winds and temperatures.

As of 2:52 p.m., Abilene registered a temperature of 104 degrees. Winds were out of the south at 17 MPHs, gusting to 26 MPHs, according to the National Weather Service. 

Rep. Jodey Arrington issued the following statement regarding the Mesquite Heat Fire: 

“Praying for West Texas and our first responders as they fight the wildfires burning throughout Taylor County. I have spoken with Taylor County elected officials, Governor Abbott’s office, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) about how we can best support their efforts. I am grateful for their tireless efforts.”

More:'It's devastating': Mesquite Heat Fire has destroyed at least 10 homes. Here's what we know.

A firefighting tanker airplane combats the Mesquite Heat Fire near View as smoke obscures the sun on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The wildfire had burned 1,500 acres and was 10% contained as of Wednesday.

Map shows Mesquite Heat Fire near View; new evacuations ordered

The Mesquite Heat Fire southwest of View is increasing in activity, prompting the closing of Braune Road between Hidden Valley Drive and Hillside Road, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office said about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Facebook update. 

The TCSO was recommending that residents in that area prepare to evacuate.

An interactive map of the Mesquite Heat Fire map is available at https://data.reporternews.com/fires/

Map of Mesquite Heat Fire, which started Tuesday, May 17, 2022, southwest of View off U.S. Highway 277.

Some View wildfire areas reopen

UPDATE 10:10 A.M. WEDNESDAY

Braune Road and County Road 317 have reopen mid-Wednesday morning, but Hidden Valley Drive and Hillside Road remain closed except for fire responders working the wildfire south of View, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office said in a 10 a.m. media statement.

Several local fire agencies are coordinating with the Texas A&M Forest Service in fighting the wildfire, the statement said. 

"The Forest Service has requested additional services to assist in putting out the fire, and because of the conditions and homes in danger, we are No. 1 in line for further assistance," the statement said. 

AEP is working to restore power to the affected areas, and the Taylor County Expo Center has been assisting with livestock and domestic animals displaced by the wildfire.

Donations can be made to the American Red Cross and View Baptist Church, the TCSO said.

The Community Foundation of Abilene also is accepting donations to its Big Country Fire Relief Fund to provide support for volunteer fire departments and people affected by the View wildfire. Donations can be made online at cfabilene.org/firerelief.

Houses, other structures destroyed in Mesquite Heat Fire near View

UPDATE 7:40 A.M. WEDNESDAY

Houses and other structures have been burned in the Mesquite Heat Fire that started Tuesday evening between Coronado's Camp and View, a Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman said Wednesday morning.

Officials are assessing the exact number of buildings destroyed, said Stuart Morris, Forest Service regional wildland urban interface coordinator.

The wildfire has burned about 1,500 acres and is 10% contained as of about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

"The fire slowed down last night because the winds dropped off," Morris said. 

Wildfire activity probably will increase Wednesday, he said, as the winds return and temperatures increase to a forecasted 106 degrees in Abilene today.

Firefighters worked all night on the blaze, and a fresh crew replaced them Wednesday morning, Morris said.

The ECCA Volunteer Fire Department requested forest service assistance in fighting the fire, which started in the hills, dropped off a mesa and moved into a valley, Morris said.

The fire has moved in a long, narrow path, fueled mostly by mesquite and juniper trees, he said. 

Several VFDs have responded to the fire. The forest service deployed dozers to create break lines and a large aircraft tanker and two smaller airplanes to attack the flames, Morris said. 

The exact cause of the fire is being investigated. The ignition point was near the U.S. Highway 277 roadway, but the cause could be due to a powerline or related to a vehicle, Morris said.

Fire near View burns 1,500 acres

UPDATE 7:40 A.M. WEDNESDAY

The wildfire near View has burned an estimated 1,500 acres and is 10% contained, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday.

That is the same amount of acreage as the forest service's update Tuesday night.

The evacuation order for residents in the area remains in place, the Taylor County Sheriff's Office stated in its latest social media update as of about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

"Crews continued structure protection overnight and made good, but slow progress to increase containment due to terrain and vegetation in the area," the forest service said in the update on Twitter. 

Volunteers at View Baptist Church, 250 Boynton Road, are accepting donations of water, fruit (bananas, apples and oranges) whole, individual pickles, baby wipes, lip balm and snacks like cheese and crackers, peanut butter crackers and sandwich fixings. 

Flames and smoke rise high above the trees in the Mesquite Heat Fire, which started near View on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

More evacuations ordered near View

UPDATE 10 P.M. TUESDAY

The Taylor County Sheriff's Office ordered more evacuations Tuesday evening due to fires near the View area.

Homes on Country Road 317/White Mines Road northwest of View were evacuated about 8:30 p.m., following evacuations on Braune Road about 45 minutes earlier, according to social media posts from the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.

The View-area wildfire, named the Mesquite Heat Fire, has burned about 1,500 acres and is 5% contained, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported just after 9 p.m. 

The fire is moving north and remains very active, the forest service said.

"Heavy equipment and engines are working the fire, with additional resources arriving on scene," according to a forest service social media upd

Progress has been made on the fire north of Merkel. Farm to Market Road 126 north of Interstate 20 was reopened about 7:45 p.m., according to Merkel police, following a fire in that area.

Utility fire crews remain on the fire scene, which is near the Tin Cup Country Club, Merkel police said. 

Also, the Taylor County Expo Center opened stalls at the Pole Barn for horses being evacuated from the fire areas. 

Fires break out near View and north of Merkel

ORIGINAL STORY, 6:31 P.M. 

Multiple fire departments responded early Tuesday evening to separate fires in west Taylor County, including north of Merkel and southwest of View.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reported on Facebook at 6:12 p.m. that residents on Hidden Valley Drive near U.S. Highway 277 southwest of View were being evacuated. A shelter was set up at View Baptist Church.

Fire crews also were responding to two structure fires off Farm to Market 126 north of Interstate 20, according to a 6:03 p.m. post on the TCSO Facebook page. 

The fires were located in the 1000 block of Farm to Market 126 north of the Tin Cup Country Club, according to a Merkel Police Department Facebook post. 

Multiple fire departments are responding to assist the Merkel Volunteer Fire Department, according to Merkel PD. 

Drivers were asked to avoid the area. 

"Our dispatch is currently being overwhelmed with 911 calls in reference to the fires in these locations," according to one TCSO post. 

Large plumes of gray and brown smoke were visible within the Abilene city limits at 5 p.m.

This is a developing story. 

Smoke originating to the west of Abilene is visible in the Elmwood neighborhood Tuesday evening, May 17, 2022.

Laura Gutschke is a general assignment reporter and food columnist and manages online content for the Reporter-News.  If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com