The Observer/Enterprise June 24, 2011

Sun Shines Through the Smoke!
 
The sun peeps through the heavy smoke as the White Hat fire 
prepares to jump Highway 70 north of Blackwell on Monday evening. 
The fire began Sunday afternoon of undetermined causes somewhere 
on or around the Arledge, Austin, Adams Ranch area in north central 
Coke County. 

No Forest Service assistance was available to the Coke County 
firefighters the first day. Several volunteer fire departments joined 
with the Robert Lee, Bronte and Blackwell Volunteer units to battle 
the blaze, located in extremely rough terrain. Firefighters came at it 
from every side, saving several residences in the process.
 
It jumped FM 1170 between Maryneal and Blackwell just after 
lunch on Monday and raged northeast. The fire continued to rage through 
Tuesday evening until heavy rain fell and quenched the flames.
 
Many of our county officials, employees, private contractors and 
volunteers put in over 24 hours at a time fighting this latest fire. 
Emergency vehicles and equipment are deteriorating rapidly as these 
fires roll through the roughest terrain of Coke County. At press time, 
no exact acreage estimates or complete damage estimates were available.
 
In next week's issue of the Observer/Enterprise, we hope to include a map 
showing all the burned area in Coke County beginning with the Wildcat Fire. 


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