Drought
Lavaca County
Fire Danger

‘Big Sniff’ fire draws 15 agencies to Lavaca County Saturday

  • 15 agencies can't be wrong. Fires danger is quite high right now.
    15 agencies can't be wrong. Fires danger is quite high right now.

    Fifteen agencies responded to what they are now calling the “Big Sniff” fire in northeastern-most reaches of Lavaca County Saturday afternoon.

    Lavaca County Emergency Management Coordinator Egon Barthels reported that the fire had been 100% contained as of 10:37 p.m. Saturday, June 25. 

    Dispatch received a call midafternoon Saturday reporting a very large brush fire off Lavaca County Road 147 near FM 155. 

    Barthels said it looked to have ignited a large cedar grove. A total of 56 acres were consumed.

    Responding agencies included Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Sheridan Fire, Weimar Fire, Rock Island VFD, Oakland VFD, Oak Ridge VFD, Columbus VFD, Lavaca County EMS, Colorado County EMS, Colorado County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Lavaca County OEM (via phone), Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Forest Service and Texas Department of Emergency Management – District 17.

    First responders had to battle both extreme heat and the fire Saturday, Barthels said. 

    Temperatures were well above the century mark. As such, crews asked that people avoid the area, if possible, through the duration of the fire.

    “Please keep these men and women in your prayers as they work in 100-plus degree heat today to battle this fire,” one agency requested, adding that the Texas Forestry Service had also been contacted for support and they sent additional personnel.  

    A burn ban remains in effect for all of Lavaca County and most of its neighbors. 

    Lavaca County Judge Mark Myers amended the burn ban last week to include a prohibition on the sale of fireworks through the Fourth of July, given the extreme dry conditions across the county.