600-acre wildfire reported at Davy Crockett National Forest

Update: As of 3 p.m. [KETK]

Firefighting crews were battling a substantial wildfire Saturday in East Texas as containment efforts progressed through the afternoon.

The blaze, known as the Double Barrel Fire, was consuming roughly 600 acres within Davy Crockett National Forest in Houston County by Saturday afternoon. Personnel from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service were actively engaged in suppression operations as the fire threatened the densely forested area near Pennington.

Initial containment stood at 30 percent as of midday Saturday, according to National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. By evening, containment efforts had increased to 40 percent, demonstrating progress made by firefighting teams throughout the day. Crews conducting controlled burning operations, a key tactical component of the overall containment strategy, had completed half of their planned work by 5 p.m.

Firefighters were employing controlled burns across approximately 1,300 acres as part of their defensive approach. These intentional burns remove vegetation that could potentially spread flames further, utilizing existing natural and constructed barriers including roads and equipment-created lines. The tactic allowed crews to establish protective perimeters around the active fire zone.

The wildfire's nearest proximity to populated areas was Pennington, though the fire's location was also accessible via Elmer Smith Road, Forest Service Road 502 and FM 358. Federal authorities cautioned residents and travelers to maintain distance from active fire suppression zones and remain vigilant in the region.