Wildfire, Starr
- When
- February 4, 2:30 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Starr forecast zone
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A grass/brush fire of unknown causes began during the mid-afternoon February 4th along Old Highway 83 (south of US 83) west of FM 649 on the east side of Escobares, and spread rapidly southeast along Old 83 into Garceno, eventually covering 80 acres before more than 60 firefighters from multiple local, state, and federal agencies contained and controlled the blaze in the early evening. The wildfire destroyed one single-family home, a Utility Terrain Vehicle, and a trailer.
The wildfire occurred on a Red Flag day, with a combination of winds from the northwest gusting over 40 mph, relative humidity falling to or just below 15 percent, freeze-cured grasses and brush, and warm temperatures (around 80 degrees) . It took nearly six hours to control, then contain, the wildfire - but embers continued to burn in dry conditions into February 5th.