With multiple fires scattered through around Levelland and parts of Hockley County, multiple fire departments worked through the intense dust storm that resulted in minimal visibility throughout the day.
Levelland-Hockley County Emergency Management Coordinator Cole Kirland received reports of a smoke smell coming from the direction of Sundown.
The Levelland Fire Department and Kirkland responded to the area of FM 300 and Kelly Road.
With high wind speeds and plenty of field to burn in its path, fire units struggled to keep up with the speed of the fire. Kirkland explained that a 15 degree wind change that pushed the fire northwest was either luck or a blessing.
“We reached a point where if the fire managed to jump the road at FM 300 we were going to have to start the process of evacuating the western part of Levelland,” explained Kirkland. “If the fire had reached Evening Tower there is nothing but open field that has been fuel loaded with the amount of dry grass.”
With the aid of the wind change and help from the Whiteface Volunteer Fire Department, the crews were able to get a handle on the fire.
Additional fire spots included a large grass fire near the Pep area approaching Yellow House and Canyon Ranch.
Kirkland explained that the wind change aided the fire near FM 300, but that affected the fire near Pep.
While traveling quickly to intercept the fire, Kirkland was able to mobilize more units in case of an increase in the fire’s intensity.
Luckily, the fire had dropped into a ravine and the Sudan Fire Department took care of the fire.
Levelland left the Whiteface units to wrap up the fire located at FM 300 as a small grass fire broke out next to the Levelland Airport that was handled quickly.
With the winds settling roughly around 2 a.m., no injuries to civilians or fire personnel were reported as well as minimal to no damage to the service equipment used.
With the aid of the Texas Forestry Service and the mutual aid from the surrounding fire departments and commissioners of Hockley County who aided in the efforts, 33 personnel and 18 assets were on scene With state services being required during the fires, a name has to be designated for the event and the name decided was the Coble Switch Fire.