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Fire stops traffic on U.S. Highway 59

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  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published January 19, 2009 at 11:44 p.m., updated January 19, 2009 at 11:44 p.m.

Smoke from four grass fires just north of Telferner caused Victoria firefighters to close all of U.S. Highway 59's lanes for about 30 minutes Monday, an official with the Victoria Fire Department said.

"The dry conditions plus the low humidity and high winds today made the fire travel faster," Battalion Chief Roger Hempel said.

Four grass fires were burning when the fire department arrived on the scene about 4 p.m. The fires spread for a total of about two acres before firefighters extinguished them.

The fires started after the front wheel bearing of a white, Dodge half-ton pickup "went out," casting sparks and igniting grass in the median of U.S. Highway 59, Hempel said.

Firefighters also received a call of another grass fire that threatened the homes of residents on Cody Drive about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

No one was injured in any of the fires, nor was any property destroyed, Hempel said.



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Comments

  • proveallthings proveallthings Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    pilot, I'm sure that we have these type of morons that work for volunteer firedepts,,who go around doing just as you stated. Why fire fascinates so many people is beyond my thinking. But I hear ya on this topic,,and they do start these fires,,just to,,as you put it,,dash for glory. This is sad but true. Heres another thing that gets me,,,about Victoria's Fire Dept.. I know someone who Is a firebug,,this guy is truely fascinated with fire for some ungodly reason. He has started Many fires,,,,,some Huge fires,,but has our fire department done anything to this man,,NO. I guess its going to take a death of someone before the FD Does Something. They know who he is,,,but Never tell him anything. He burns in a woodburning stove in his home when its 80 degrees outside,,if we're under a burn ban meaning he can't burn Outside. This guy burns all kinds of things inside his home. Many times my family can't go outside because of the smell. I have contacted the Fire Marshall,,,but he says,,,our hands are tied,,and really there nothing we can do about it. This guy has a tree service drop off cut limbs,,Just so he'll have something to burn. I basiclly have to live in fear, that this guy will start a fire during the night and it will get out of control,,and burn down my home,,Killing my family and myself...I Do have the best smoke detecors that are available,,but Still I cannot see why the FD can't do something about This firebug.

    January 20, 2009 at 8:49 p.m.
  • pitbullsrock pitbullsrock Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Pilot I don't think we have any Volunteer arsonist out there atleast i hope we don't. Victoria County Volunteer firefighter populations has actually declined some much its amazing we still have guys willing to put in the time to go out to these fires.

    January 20, 2009 at 8:27 p.m.
  • TxBohemian TxBohemian Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    roberttx wrote...

    "I wish there was an online feed to listen to the calhoun county poice scanner"

    That's funny!! But I know what you mean, it's getting quite annoying already!!

    January 20, 2009 at 7:05 a.m.
  • roberttx roberttx Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    I wish there was an online feed to listen to calhoun county police scanner.

    I was driving 59 about a month or so ago, the smoke from a fire about blocked out the sun.

    January 20, 2009 at 1:10 a.m.
  • scannermastertexas scannermastertexas Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    There is a live police scanner feed on the Internet open to the public for free. The link right now offers people a way to listen to law enforcement operations without having to buy a digital scanner. The link made available is for Calhoun County law enforcement traffic and Port Lavaca police and fire related services in this area. The link is open 24/7 365 days years. The link only goes down for 10 mins a day AROUND 5PM for schedule COMPUTER maint. This service is free of charge and YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING. So please feel free to use this services. LET EVERYONE KNOW OF THIS FREE SERVICE Thank you. http://calhoun.tx.scanamerica.us/

    Another item was also added on to the link page. The new item is a ""blue italic"" I''' (info icon)., next to the link for the online scanner feed. When clicked it opens a document showing the used Codes and Locations that law enforcement uses throughout Calhoun County, it also shows the current list of agencies and there channels being scanned on the live police scanner feed.

    The link to reach the online scanner feed for Calhoun County can be reached at:
    http://calhoun.tx.scanamerica.us/

    The link again is: http://calhoun.tx.scanamerica.us/

    January 19, 2009 at 11:40 p.m.