Grass fire burns 2 to 4 acres near Mexia city line

A controlled burn by a resident that began just outside the Mexia city limits became unwieldy about noon Thursday and the City of Mexia Fire Department was called in to get the fire under control.

Mexia Fire Chief Robert LaFoy said the grass fire resulted in two to four acres being burned. Part of the area burned was outside the city limits and part of the area was inside the city limits.

The fire department received the call at about noon and the fire was under control within 45 minutes of their arrival, LaFoy said.

The fire began on property on North Ross Avenue that sits next to an apartment complex. It was under control quickly and the apartment complex was not affected by it.

“The resident was burning some brush, from what I understand, and he kept it under control for a little bit,” LaFoy said at the scene. “But then it became uncontrolled and spread to the neighboring pasture, which was relatively high grass, dead grass, lots of fuel. So, that’s what started the grass fire.”

The Mexia Fire Department responded quickly once the call was received.

“Approximately 12 o’clock is when we initially got the first call,” LaFoy said. “We responded with two engines and a rescue truck, just because of the neighboring apartment complex.”

LaFoy said the ground was too moist to get a fire engine on it. So, City of Mexia Fire Department personnel got the fire under control by hand.

“We had to do it by hand with what we call flappers,” LaFoy said. “Because the ground was too wet to get these trucks on top of it to spray it with water. So, actually, we fought most of this fire with hand tools.”

LaFoy noted that the Mexia State School also responded with a truck and two personnel to assist the City of Mexia Fire Department.

Limestone County had been under a burn ban that was lifted Tuesday morning after a good amount of rain fell last week.