Firefighters quickly stop spread of small blazes

Denton firefighters converged on a number of small grass fires that sprang up at about 10 a.m. Thursday and quickly brought them under control.

Five blazes were reported at about the same time along North Loop 288 between Sherman Drive and Kings Row. Eleven fire units responded along with seven police cars, and the fires were reported under control in about an hour.

Most of the blazes were reduced to blackened ground before spreading into nearby tree lines, but one spread to about two acres and threatened houses along Kings Row, said Fire Capt. Mark Klingele.

"We had enough people here, and we got to the head quickly and got it in the black," Klingele said. "We came at it from two directions, and it barely got into the tree line."

Sanger and Krum firefighters aided Denton, and the Lake Cities and Argyle departments sent engines to cover southern stations in case of other calls.

There were no injuries or damage to buildings.

Denton police spokesman Ryan Grelle said officers contacted residents in the Kings Row area and alerted them to possible danger from the nearby grass fires.

The cause of the fires is still under investigation, said Assistant Fire Marshal Chad Weldon. Fire investigators walked the blackened area but found no evidence of an ignition source, such as discarded cigarettes or fireworks, Weldon said. With the dry conditions, a spark from a passing vehicle could start a fire, he said.

"With the July Fourth holiday coming up, I'm concerned," he said. "I would encourage everyone to take care with any kind of combustible materials. It is illegal to possess fireworks inside the city limits or within 5,000 feet of the city limits. People should take care with cookouts and grills. The dry conditions and the heat could contribute to a major fire danger."

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .