Ongoing fire at Possum Kingdom Lake wasn’t the most destructive. Here’s what was
The fire that continues to burn near Possum Kingdom Lake isn’t the first and is not as nearly as destructive as one more than a decade ago. That was in April of 2011.
Starting April 9, 2011, the Possum Kingdom Complex Fire burned for 34 days and claimed about 125,000 acres until it was fully contained. The fire burned at least 167 homes and two churches, leaving others without power and water.
Tim Green of Southlake, who was a resident at the time, told the Star-Telegram in 2011 that he was working out outside when he saw smoke behind his home.
“I was working out front with the electrician when I looked up and saw billowing smoke behind the house,” Green said. “I walked over to a path by the house to see what was happening. I could feel the heat and then I saw the fire through the trees.”
At the time of the fire, 212 of 254 counties were under burn bans.
“This is an event that’s going to mark time in our county’s history,” former Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer told the Star-Telegram while standing outside a burnt-out home in 2011. “It’s something that’s going to change forever the looks and the community itself.”
Rainfall proved to be a big help. The weather halted the fire from blowing back through the area. About two inches of rain fell on the fire.
“It’s a mixed blessing,” said Dave Boyd of the federal firefighting team at the lake in 2011. “The rain is good, but storms have lightning strikes that could hit something and smolder for days before a fire starts up.”
The blaze cost the state about $500,000 with 584 personnel and 100 firefighting vehicles.
