The Neighbor Fire near Blanket had reached 90% containment by 8 p.m. Monday after burning an estimated 220 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Brown County Emergency Management reported no damage to homes and no injuries as firefighters and other agencies continued working at the scene.
The fire’s cause had not been determined as of Monday evening. The wildfire was first reported during the early afternoon Sunday in the 5400 block of Hughdy Drive, south of U.S. Highway 67/377 and near County Roads 329, 325 and 294, in the area between Blanket and Early. The Texas A&M Forest Service later named it the Neighbor Fire.
Local departments and outside agencies responded
Fire departments from across Brown County responded as the blaze traveled north. The responding departments included Brownwood, Blanket, Zephyr, Early, Bangs, May, Lake Bridge, Brookesmith and Winchell. Mutual aid was also requested and received from agencies in Coleman, Comanche and McCulloch counties.
Aerial resources joined the ground response. The Texas A&M Forest Service dispatched two twin-engine Super Scooper aircraft from College Station, which collected water from Lake Brownwood. Several single-engine Air Tractor 802 aircraft from Mineral Wells dropped fire retardant, and a BAE-146 air tanker from Abilene also assisted.
The forest service sent 12 crews from the Brownwood area to work on the fire, with additional crews from San Angelo expected to arrive. The Texas Army National Guard also sent a helicopter to perform bucket work at the site.
Forward progress stopped Sunday
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced at 5:17 p.m. Sunday that the fire’s forward progression had been stopped. Fire departments were beginning to “mop up,” a phase of response focused on addressing remaining hotspots, while local agencies stayed on scene. The Texas A&M Forest Service continued providing aerial assistance into the evening.
The Neighbor Fire was one of several significant wildfires reported in the region. On Monday, the Rio Escandio Fire in Hamilton County near Evant was reported at more than 2,000 acres. The Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County near Mineral Wells had consumed more than 4,000 acres.
For Brownwood-area residents, the latest report indicated that the Neighbor Fire had not damaged homes or caused reported injuries, although cleanup and fire-control operations were continuing and the cause remained under investigation.