BELL COUNTY, TX – Dozens of fire departments and state agencies responded Monday afternoon to a large wildfire near the 2900 block of Hackberry Road in Southeast Bell County.
At about 2:12 p.m., the Bell County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting smoke in the area. The Salado Fire Department was first on scene and discovered a fast-moving grass fire. As conditions intensified, the Eastside Strike Force was activated, bringing in fire departments from Temple, Belton, Bartlett, Holland, Rogers, Little River-Academy, Troy, Sparta Valley, Morgans Point Resort, Moffat, and Jarrell.
When shifting winds expanded the fire’s reach, the Westside Strike Force was called in, with crews from Killeen, Fort Hood, Nolanville, Harker Heights, Central Bell, and Southwest Bell joining the effort.
The Texas A&M Forest Service also responded with firefighters, bulldozers, and aircraft conducting retardant drops. Additional support came from Travis County and the Lake Travis Fire Wildland team.
As of Monday evening, the fire had burned more than 200 acres, but no structures were damaged. Containment efforts were ongoing under the command of the Salado Fire Department, with assistance from Bell County Emergency Management.
Officials are urging residents to avoid the area, emphasizing that onlookers and unnecessary traffic are hampering the movement of firefighting equipment and personnel.
