Fire scorches 3,000 acres in Comanche County

Firefighters from approximately 30 departments were battling a grass fire for the second day in Comanche County late Wednesday afternoon. The Texas Forest Service reported the fire, 20 miles east of Comanche near Lamkin in Comanche County, had burned 3,000 acres, destroyed one home and two outbuildings. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Lewis Kearney, a spokesman for the TFS. There were reports that the community of Lamkin was evacuated, but Kearney could not confirm that. Ed Millwee, chief of the Sipe Springs Volunteer Fire Department, said one firefighter was taken to the hospital in Hamilton for heat-related injuries. No other injuries were reported. Red Cross volunteers from Abilene, Brownwood and San Angelo were on the scene. Kearney reported that the fire started at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Numerous volunteer... [read full story]