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Fires Update: Wednesday (April 27) 4 PM

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The Southern Area Incident Management Team got the weather they were hoping for today, and were able to start back burns this afternoon. The burns run from just west of the McDonald Observatory, near 118, all the way to 1 1/2 mile south of the intersection of Highway 118 and Highway 166.

KRTS Marfa just spoke with Bonnie Strawser, Public Information Officer for the Southern Area Incident Management Team. According to Strawser, as of 4 PM, officials are optimistic about fire fighters' progress today on the Rock House Fire. So far, Wednesday has provided "perfect fire fighting conditions," said Strawser. KRTS will have more information on today's progress after their evening meeting.

The other area of concern today was the the north flank of the fire, located to the north east of the Boy Scout Camp. Today, fire fighters did a direct attack on this area with a bulldozer. Current reports on this attack show positive results. Yesterday, wind blew a large amount of smoke from this area towards Toyahvale and Balmorhea, briefly closing Highway 17 due to low visibility.

Fire fighters from Marfa and Presidio, along with Border Patrol and the Forest Service, are still battling a fire that started last night on the Shurley Ranch. The fire is roughly twenty miles south of Marfa, and about 2-3 miles east of Highway 67. The fire is not moving as quickly because it's traveling over rough and spotty terrain. Presidio County Judge Paul Hunt spoke to KRTS this afternoon and said that he has not declared it a county emergency, as the Rock House Fire was. This is because the Shurley Ranch Fire is "much smaller and not threatening any structures," said Hunt.

KRTS also spoke to volunteer fire fighter Ed Jennings. Though Marfa is not currently threatened, he recommended people should be "hyper vigilant." It is advised individuals move all debris and dead wood from around homes and outbuildings.

A red flag alert is in place until 9 PM today. Stay tuned to KRTS for more updates.

6:30 UPDATE: KRTS spoke again with Judge Hunt. It's estimated that 3,500 acres have been burned in the Shurley Ranch Fire. According to Hunt, fire fighters are optimistic that the fire will be contained tonight.