Wildfire — Stephens, Texas

2011-04-13 to 2011-04-29 · Stephens, Texas

Event narrative

The Possum Kingdom West fire began in Stephens County near FM 1148 and FM 3253. However, strong winds on critical fire weather days also drove this fire into Palo Pinto and Young County. On the 18th, it made a fast run towards Graham in Young County resulting in evacuations for the town of Bunger. The fire also caused several hundred people to be evacuated around PK Lake. It scorched 90% of the 1500 acre Possum Kingdom Lake State Park on April 17th, but no structures were lost at the park. On April 15th, this fire merged with the Hohertz Fire in Palo Pinto County and the fires were renamed the PK Complex. On April 17th, the PK East Fire in Palo Pinto County was added to this complex, and on April 19th, the Jackson Ranch Fire in Stephens County also burned into the complex. In all, 126,734 acres were burned by this complex of four fires, 167 homes were destroyed, 2 churches were destroyed, and another 124 outbuildings were lost. The PK West Fire burned the most acres and may have burned over 80,000 acres. This fire burned 52 homes in Sportsman World, 37 homes at Gaines Bend, and 24 homes in Hog Bend. Several mobile homes on the west side of the lake near FM 1148 and FM 1287 were burned. This fire also burned the 100-year-old Cedar Springs United Methodist Church west of Palo Pinto. At least 22 known heads of cattle were killed by this fire and several more were injured.

Wider weather episode

The Possum Kingdom Fire Complex consisted of four separate wildfires that merged into one large complex due to critical fire weather conditions and windy days. The four fires were the Possum Kingdom West Fire, the Possum Kingdom East Fire, the Hohertz Fire, and the Jackson Ranch Fire. In all, 126,734 acres were burned by this complex, 167 homes and 2 churches were destroyed, and another 124 outbuildings were lost. Most of the destroyed homes were on the south and west sides of Possum Kingdom Lake, and 90% of Possum Kingdom State Park was torched. In addition, several heads of cattle were killed by the fires and many more were burned or injured. The estimated damage from these fires was over $150 million, and the Texas Forestry Service estimated the cost to fight the fire was over $11 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 294292. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.