Rest Area Fire 2025

On Friday, March 14, 2025, Texas A&M Forest Service received a request for assistance for a wildfire in Gray Country. The fire was initially estimated to be 1,000 acres and 0% containment with active fire on the head and flanks of the fire. Fire behavior is extreme with winds at 70 to 80 mph. An incident command post was established at the Rest Area. The fire is in unified command with the McLean Volunteer Fire Department. There are access problems due to a 7 car pile up and semi trucks stacked along Highway 40. Alanreed has been evacuated and McClean was currently being evacuated as of 2:00 pm. 

March 14th 5:40 pm - Forward progression of the fire has stopped. The fire has stopped at County Road 29. Crews are currently mapping the fire for better acreage. The whole fire is receiving some amount of precipitation. 

March 14th 6:42 pm - The fire has been updated to 3,000 acres and 30% containment. Texas A&M Forest Service resources are working the southern flank towards the county road graders that are working line from the southeast side.

March 14th 7:30 am - Fire acreage was bumped to 4,500 acres and 35% containment. Winds are anticipated to gust to 25 mph this afternoon. Cooler temperatures are expected. Dry air will make its way in to the area and relative humidity levels are expected to drop into the 15 to 20% range for the fire area this afternoon.  

March 15th 12:00 pm - Only fire activity is on the interior of the fire and containment has increased to 40%. Crews are rehabilitating fire lines and engines are conducting mop up. 

March 15th 4:00 pm - The current acreage is 7,931 Acres and containment is 50%. Resources continue to mop and patrol. 

March 16th 6:30 pm - The acreage remains at 7,931 and the containment is now `100%.