Fire crews continued to try and contain separate wildfires spanning several Texas counties on Monday.
Fires covering about 10,000 acres across Erath and Hood County were about 50% contained but under control on Monday afternoon, the Texas A&M Forest Service posted on Twitter. A mandatory evacuation order issued on Sunday for Lipan in Hood County was lifted as of Monday morning, according to a tweet from Hood County.
"The fire is still active but forward progression has been stopped," the Texas A&M Forest Service tweeted Monday morning.
About 1:30 p.m. Monday, the forest service said, rain was falling across the fire area but crews were continuing suppression efforts.
The fire, known as the "Big L Fire," was located about 15 miles northeast of Stephenville. Stephenville is in Erath County and is about 65 miles west of Fort Worth.
Since Sunday, four firefighters who battled the blaze have needed medical treatment, according to Hood County officials. One firefighter who received first-degree burns was treated at a hospital and released. The other three firefighters suffered dehydration but are OK now, officials said.
Two of the firefighters are a mother and daughter from the North Hood County Volunteer Fire Department, officials said. Crystal Head, the mother, was taken to a hospital, treated and released. The daughter, Briana Head, was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Hood County Fire Marshal Jeff Young told WFAA-TV that as of Sunday afternoon, the fire had destroyed six buildings.
Elizabeth Tubbs told WFAA that she learned from a neighbor that her home had been destroyed.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do," Tubbs said. "The only thing I have is in my truck, clothes wise, but I'll be OK."
A series of fires in Eastland County, referred to as the Eastland Complex fires, grew from Sunday to Monday. What was previously a group of four fires became a combination of seven fires as of Monday. The blaze covered about 54,000 total acres and was made up of the Kidd Fire, the Blowing Basin Fire, the Cedar Mountain Fire, the Oak Mott Fire, the Wheat Field Fire, the Mangum Fire and the Walling Fire.
On Saturday, some residents in Carbon, a town of about 272 in Eastland County, returned to their homes after evacuating and found their houses reduced to rubble and ash.
At least 50 homes have burned in the Eastland County area.
In Hood County, a Granbury church was open for evacuees at Granbury Methodist, 301 NE Loop 567. The church can be contacted to see what donations it may need as it helps evacuees, at (817) 573-5573.
Donations will also be accepted at Decker Gym, 600 W. Bridge St. in Granbury on Monday between noon and 6 p.m. The donations that are needed are: non-perishable foods, lip balm, eye wash, alcohol-free wipes, over the counter pain relievers and body lotion. Due to public health concerns, no clothing items are being accepted.
At least one person has died in the fires. An Eastland County sheriff's deputy died Thursday night while she tried to save someone from the fires, the sheriff's office said Friday.
Rain on Monday may help with controlling fires after another dry day with high fire risks on Sunday, though thunderstorms may also bring strong winds.
