KILLEEN, Texas (July 14, 2022; 6:30p.m. Update) – The City of Killeen’s Fire and Police departments will be working into the night on cleanup operations of two fires in the area. Crews received a call at about 1:59p.m. about the Riley grass fire at WS Young Drive and Stagecoach Road.
Approximately six acres burned and a U.S. Forestry helicopter was able to assist in dropping water in areas where fire crews’ could not reach.
WS Young Drive from Stagecoach Road to Love Drive was closed while crews battled the flames, but the road reopened by 6p.m. The cause is storm-related, as high winds swept in, causing the fire to move quickly.
One person was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and transported to a hospital.
The wildfire named the Texas A&M University Central Texas fire, broke out about 4p.m. and burned 40 acres. The U.S. Forestry helicopter also assisted with this fire and it will monitor the area until about 8:30p.m., but this fire has been contained.
There were no mandatory evacuations at either fire, although residents at two homes voluntarily left their home as a precaution. The suspected cause of this TAMUCTX fire is lightning.