Voluntary evacuation in effect for Hill Top Fire south of Abilene
ABILENE, Texas - A large fire between U.S. Hwy. 83/84 and Old Coleman Hwy. and moving northeast had the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office issuing a voluntary evacuation for residents in this area, as well as their livestock.
10-percent contained
The Texas A&M Forest Service is calling this the Hill Top Fire and it had so far consumed about 400 acres and was still an active fire as of about 8 p.m. Friday night and was 10% contained.
The TCSO said the evacuation order was voluntary into the evening but urged that due to the wind the fire could change direction at any minute. The fire was moving northeast.
They asked the public to avoid calling the 911 system about the fire because the lines were being overloaded. The TCSO said information will be released to the public periodically as it becomes available. Northbound traffic along Hwy. 83/84 was shut down to allow fire equipment through the area.
At about 7 p.m., the TCSO was reporting that Verizon Wireless service was out of service for this area.
A social media post from Big Stars Farm said they have pasture space for horses, cows and limited space for goats and chickens.
“This offer stands as long as this post is still up,” they said, and the post remained online as of 8 p.m. Friday.
The Taylor County Expo Center is also serving as an evacuation center for animals.
The TCSO said River of Life Church on Hwy. 83/84 would be open until 9 p.m. Friday as a cooling station.
Air tankers made trips to Kirby Lake to scoop up water to dump on the fire.
Stay with the Abilene Reporter-News for information on this changing situation.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Voluntary evacuation in effect for Hill Top Fire south of Abilene
