KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX NewsBear Creek fire 100% contained, work far from over

LONGVIEW, TX (KSLA) - The Bear Creek fire is said to be 100% contained as of Thursday night, but the work of ensuring the wildfire remains contained and does not flare up again is far from over.

The Incident Management Team coordinating response to what has become known as the Northeast Texas Wildfire Complex reports that there is still some potential for re-ignition in areas where pine needles and leaves may fall to the ground or where logs and stumps have not completely burned yet.

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They are mopping up and continuing to monitor hot spots.  Jim Whittington, a Public Information Officer for the Pacific Northwest Incident Management team working out of the Longview-Gregg County Emergency Operations Center, says they "feel good" about the fire breaks that have been established around the perimeter of the wildfire, which involves 40,963 acres.

Working with the Red Cross, Cass and Marion County officials have come up with an estimate of 66 structures – primary and secondary residences – believed to have been destroyed.  A second team is now in the process of assessing the structural losses using GPS and county records for a more accurate count. 

Weather conditions have also improved, with higher humidity levels, temperatures in the 80s, cloud cover and even a few scattered showers possible. 

The Bear Creek fire has been burning since Sunday of Labor Day weekend between Avinger and Linden in Cass County.  It consumed more than 7,000 acres by Monday night.  It spread south into Marion County and quickly grew to more than 40,000 acres within a week, becoming the largest wildfire in Northeast Texas history.

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• Bear Creek fire 90% contained, wind remains a threat
• Bear Creek fire update: Preparing for potential 'reburn'
• Marion County wildfire victims sift through rubble
• NE Texas fires update: 66 homes lost in Bear Creek fire
• Saturday evening update: Bear Creek wildfire 80% contained
• TX Forest Service: Bear Creek fire largest in ETX history
• Emergency closure of Lake O' the Pines due to fires
• Emergency incident level stepped up in Bear Creek fire
• ON THE SCENE: Bear Creek fire update from Marion Co, TX
• ArkLaTex wildfires: Continuing coverage