During the 7pm hour on Tuesday (April 24), KRTS began reporting on a series of lightning-strike wildfires in Jeff Davis County, affecting portions of York Ranch, McCoy Ranch, and Brooks Mountain.
One is located north of Fort Davis, up in the hills east of Highway 17, roughly between Balmorhea State Park and Wild Rose Pass, on McCoy Ranch.
Another set of fires were burning roughly near Hwy 166; one southeast of Mount Livermore, on Brooks Mountain. Another on York Ranch. Many area volunteer fire departments are on the scene.
There has been smoke drifting into residential areas of the Davis Mountains Resort this Wednesday morning. According to the Sheriff's Dispatch, there have been numerous false reports over the last two days, but the fires listed here are confirmed. Dispatch also said no people or structures were endangered.
On Tuesday night there was also reporting in Big Bend Now.
UPDATE: Latest information on these three wildfires, as of Wednesday at 11:30 AM.
The Spring Mountain Fire, north of Valentine, partly on the York Ranch, has consumed 1,700 acres. It's up in mountainous country and officials are currently monitoring it.
The McCoy 2 Fire is north and east of the Boy Scout Ranch, which is along Highway 17 between Wild Rose Pass and Balmorhea State Park. It's in rough country. There are air crews flying over it this hour. It has run less than 100 acres.
The Livermore Ranch Fire is west of Mount Livermore and has consumed 2,300 acres. Timber is burning in that area. There is much smoke from that conflagration drifting into nearby residential areas. Officials are closely monitoring wind conditions, which are currently westerly and at 15 to 20 miles per hour. This afternoon gusts are expected up to 30 miles per hour.
Three crews from Texas Forest Service are en route to Jeff Davis County. These are 20-man crews with 3 vehicles. The crews are arriving from Fort Stockton, Fredericksburg, and Merkel, Texas. There is also an air squad from Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Our thanks to Bob Dillard, editor of the Jeff Davis County Mountain Dispatch, for his assistance with this report.