3 firefighters hospitalized during Henderson County fires

HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - Crews from more than a dozen East Texas departments were battling a fire that spanned 156 acres on Tuesday.

“We got called out here about three o’clock so we’ll probably be out here for another four or five hours, until 11, midnight maybe,” said Sean Dugan the PIO for Texas A&M Forest Services. He said no one was hurt and some structures were threatened but none damaged.

“We have a bunch of resources, fire departments, volunteer fire departments. We have three dozers from Texas A&M Forest Service and one engine,” Dugan said. “We’ve had a lead plane and an air tanker working the fire. They’ve been called off.”

Tuesday afternoon, winds didn’t help their fighting efforts.

“Wildfire conditions are really bad right now. It’s high level risk, so anything that can cause a spark, grills, welding, hay bailing equipment, just be very cautious with it, with anything that can cause a spark,” Dugan said.

Officials say that all fires in Henderson County are under control as of 7:55 p.m. Three firefighters were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation from the Gun Barrel City fire, they added.

Earlier in the day, firefighters had evacuated areas of Henderson County due to a fire that was reported on social media as 30 acres and spreading.

Multiple fire agencies responded to another wildfire off FM 59 Tuesday afternoon, according to Henderson County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg.

County officials have called for an evacuation of County Road 1200 from the 9800 block to the 1100 block, Private Road 5207, Private Road 5203, and have now extended the evacuation area of CR 1200 to the 9400 block.

Residents are directed to go to the Henderson County Senior Citizens Center.

Officials have opened up a second evacuation area at the Cross Roads ISD gym.

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