By Celinda Emison and Greg Kendall-Ball
The Abilene Reporter-News
SHACKELFORD CO.,Texas — A man sharpening a lawn mower blade on his front porch Tuesday afternoon ignited a blaze that destroyed a home off County Road 155. The Hamby Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call at 1:15 p.m. to find the home engulfed in flames.
“While he was sharpening the lawn mower blade, gas poured out onto the dry grass set the whole works on fire,” said Hamby VFD Chief Ray Watson.
Watson said one firefighter was injured when combustible items located near the home began to explode after being ignited by flames.
“We also nearly lost an engine,” Watson said.
The fire quickly spread and burned about six acres surrounding the home.
“We had to save three homes,” said Watson, adding that no one was evacuated. Assistance from the Albany VFD and equipment from Precinct 4 in Shackelford County helped prevent a serious wildfire, Watson said.
“We are still monitoring the fire,” Watson said. “We can’t take a chance due to the conditions were have.”
Elsewhere around the Big Country on Tuesday, one more fires broke out while others were brought under control.
By Tuesday evening, the Swenson fire that ravaged more than 103,000 acres in Stonewall, Knox and King counties was reported to be 90 percent contained, according to officials with the Texas Forest Service.
Light winds and mild temperatures Sunday, followed by strong northern winds on Monday, helped fire crews make significant headway against the fire, said TFS spokesman Lee McNeely.
At least 16 area fire agencies were working the fire, in addition to the TFS and Texas Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety personnel and their resources. More than 160 homes threatened by the fire were saved, officials said. Only two unoccupied homes were reported as lost.
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