Webster: Colony Fire no longer active

The Hood County Colony Fire, between Granbury and Tolar, was completely contained and considered no longer acitve as of last Friday, Aug. 5, Hood County Emergency Management Coordinator Jay Webster.

The Texas Forest Service website showed, as of Friday, Aug. 5, that approximately 467 acres had burned. Webster stated that the fire, which is within land on the Double T Ranch, did not destroy or damage any residences or other structures, and there are no reports of cattle killed.

A note on the Hood County website on Friday stated: "At this time all road closures have been lifted. There are no evacuations at this time."

All nine of Hood County's volunteer fire departments responded to the Colony Fire on Aug. 3, along with personnel and air support from the Texas Forest Service. Firefighters from Erath County also assisted.

One firefighter, a member of the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, suffered minor burn injuries on Wednesday (Aug. 3) and was flown by medical helicopter to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, which has a top-flight burn treatment facility. Cresson VFD Fire Chief Ron Becker told the HCN that the firefighter, who is under 20 years old, sustained a small burn on one of his forearms, as well as some burns on his ears, and was released to go home later that evening. Becker chose not to release the name of the injured firefighter.

Two other firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene of the fire, officials said.

Becker said that the injured firefighter had been one of three personnel in a brush truck that evidently got stuck high-center on some rocks and was immobilized. That brush truck, amid thicker smoke at that point, had to be abandoned as the wind was shifting and the flames drew closer. The brush truck was considered a total loss, according to Becker.

Becker said that, “The injuries were very minor, nothing serious,” over a small area, and were considered second-degree burns.

Having the burned firefighter flown to Parkland’s burn treatment center was an indicator that precaution was used to ensure that he received the proper care.

“We were thrilled he wasn’t more seriously injured. We’re very fortunate that our guys have been trained and they understand the risks,” Becker said. “They make good decisions. They know what they’re doing.”