Texas firefighters battle 3,025-acre wildfire in Stephens County

Containment of the Bufford Creek Fire in Stephens County has reached 90% as the wildfire's footprint adjusted slightly to 3,025 acres, state forestry officials said. [Fox 4 Dallas]

Firefighting efforts against a major wildfire in Stephens County have progressed significantly, with crews now containing approximately nine-tenths of the blaze's perimeter, according to state forestry officials. The fire has charred roughly 3,025 acres across the sparsely populated county, situated between Fort Worth to the southeast and Abilene to the southwest.

The Bufford Creek Fire ignited on Aug. 10 near Breckenridge, starting approximately five miles north of the city along State Highway 67. County commissioners declared a local disaster in response to the rapid expansion, fueled by oppressive heat and exceptionally dry vegetation that proved ideal for fire growth. The combination of meteorological and environmental factors allowed the flames to spread quickly across the landscape before suppression efforts took hold.

Fire suppression operations have involved a coordinated response between local fire departments and the Texas A&M Forest Service. Personnel have worked in challenging conditions marked by elevated temperatures and parched grass and brush to establish firebreaks and eliminate dangerous pockets of flame along the fire's edges. These containment lines represent the primary strategy to prevent the fire from expanding further into surrounding areas.

Firefighting crews continue to patrol the perimeter, identifying and extinguishing any remaining hotspots that could reignite and threaten the containment work already accomplished. Officials emphasized that while significant progress has been achieved, the operation remains active as teams work toward complete suppression.

The Bufford Creek Fire is one of multiple active fires affecting Texas. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the state is currently managing 26 fully contained wildfires, three that remain under active control, and one additional active fire requiring ongoing suppression efforts.