Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Eastland, Brown and Comanche counties, and no injuries have thus far been reported, said Kari Hines, a spokeswoman for Texas A & M Forest Service.
About 475 homes in Gorman have been evacuated as authorities updated the Country Wildfire Information System.
At least four fires have raged across the complex this week, its website said.
The forest service had reported the building was zero percent contained on Thursday evening.
The fire service said that another fire in nearby Runnels and Coleman counties that had burned about 7.000 hectares (53.500 acres) escaped from containment lines late Thursday because of “high winds causing fire activity to pick up.” and that the fire was 50 per cent contained, the service said.
Highway 153 was closed to incoming traffic, Coleman Fire Department posted on Facebook on Thursday night.
State Transportation Administration officials asked residents in Runnels County and Coleman County to “avoid the area of Carbon to Gorman to Lake Leon to allow access for first responders so they can work to control/extinguish this wildfire that has closed”
In a post earlier on Thursday night, the Coleman Fire Department said residents north of the freeway will likely return to their homes “in a couple hours.”
Update: the #EastlandComplex in Eastland County is an estimated 14,800 acres and 0% contained.
📷 Map for the fire showing a preliminary perimeter. This is an estimation and subject to change. pic.twitter.com/mWRnTn3eLQ
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
Update: the #CrewsGapFire in Runnels/Coleman County escaped containment lines on the east side due to high winds causing fire activity to pick up. The fire is an estimated 7,000 acres and 50% contained. #txfire
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
We have some good news. The evacuation in Taylor County, which included portions of Abilene, has been lifted. Critical fire weather conditions will continue through mid to late evening, so continue to remain vigilant and monitor local media for the latest updates. #sjtwx #txwx
— NWS San Angelo (@NWSSanAngelo) March 18, 2022
Alert: Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to a request for assistance in Sterling County on the #EdmundsonFire. The fire is an estimated 2,500 acres and 30% contained. #txfire pic.twitter.com/OA7BkPGur6
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
Update: the #EastlandComplex in Eastland County is an estimated 38,383 acres and 0% contained. Crews are focusing on operations related to life safety and structure protection as well as the construction of fireline where possible. #txfire pic.twitter.com/kpbBA7T3YM
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 18, 2022
