Deadly Fires Sweep Texas

The wildfires that have been sweeping Texas this week turned deadly Friday when volunteer firefighter Gregory Simmons died battling a 3,000-acre blaze near Eastland, about 130 miles west of Dallas. “Apparently he was overcome by smoke, fell in a ditch and was consumed” by the fire, said Justice of the Peace James King. Simmons had two decades of firefighting experience, including 11 years with Eastland's department. Strong winds and dry brush have fueled the fires, some of which have been burning for more than a week and that spanned about 655 square miles. One blaze destroyed 30 homes and charred 20,000 acres near Possum Kingdom Lake, a recreation spot 120 miles west of Dallas, while three fires burning northwest of Dallas destroyed 30 homes and prompted the evacuation of 1,200 residents. In total the three fires have burned more than 400,000 acres so far.