Firefighters continue mop-up, worry about weather

DALLAS – Firefighters continued to make gradual progress containing the massive, wind-whipped wildfires that raged across Texas while expressing worry that a change in the weather early next week could spark a new outbreak.

West Texas firefighters on Saturday worked to finish controlled burns in the Fort Davis area fire before a renewed threat of fire-friendly weather, which was expected to arrive on Tuesday.

In the giant North Texas fire, firefighters worked on mop-up operations in the Possum Kingdom area. That fire was said to be only about 25 percent contained. More than 460 firefighters worked to build a fire line stretching more than 270 miles.

Since Jan. 1, wildfires have scorched more than 1.4 million acres in the state and led to the deaths of two firefighters.