Longview, TX — At least 12 homes were destroyed and more than 300 acres of rural Upshur County timber and pasture land were scorched by wildfires late Tuesday.

On the morning after, one family gave thanks to God and area firefighters that their home was not among those burned.

Wildfires destroyed structures surrounding the family’s, but spared their mobile home.

Chad Roach said he was stranded at his “adopted mother’s home” on Raintree Lakes Circle, near the Rosewood community on Texas 154, when he learned that the fire had spread from the north side of Texas 154 into their neighborhood.

The blaze, which Texas Forest Service officials are calling Rhonesboro fire No. 593, erupted around 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon off of Texas 154 near the intersection of FM 1002 in Upshur County. Numerous fire departments responded to blazes in the area.

Upshur County Fire Marshal Paul Steelman said the blaze torched between 320 and 350 acres and destroyed 12 homes “that we know about.” Harmony ISD also cancelled class Wednesday.

“Wind was a major factor with the fire. It spread faster than you could run across 154,” Steelman said Wednesday morning. “We have a lot of resources here, and will throughout the day to prevent the fire from flaring up.”

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