Wildfire in Wheeler, Texas

The Magic City Wildfire began around 1135 CST about four miles east of Kellerville in Wheeler County...just north of Farm to Market Road 2473. The wildfire consumed seventeen thousand acres which was measured using the Global Positioning System from a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. A total of forty-four various fire departments and other agencies responded to the wildfire including the Texas Forest Service. The wildfire was determined to have been caused by transmission lines. Four firefighters were injured due to smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion and fifteen head of cattle were lost. Three hundred and fifty homes and sixty businesses were saved. However...twenty-six outbuildings and eight residential structures were lost. Of those eight residential structures...five were occupied and three were unoccupied. Twelve residential structures were reported to have been damaged. None of the residents were injured. The wildfire was fully contained by 0900 CST on 04/12/09.