After a couple of tense days of rapid fire growth in the Pauline Road area, Montgomery County officials are reporting significant progress in the fight to contain the blaze.
The Pauline Road Fire, which has burned an estimated 2,375 acres in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties, is now 45 percent contained, and all mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted.
Overnight, the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office deployed Forward-Looking Infrared-enabled (FLIR) drones to survey the area for lingering hot spots. The flights revealed no fire activity beyond the containment lines and only minimal activity within them, a promising sign that the worst may be behind.
“With weather becoming more favorable to firefighters, they will mop up this fire over the weekend to finalize containment and shore up their current lines,” Keough stated.
According to the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office, fire investigators with the Texas A&M Forest Service have determined that the fire originated from a prescribed burn on private property. An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances that led to the prescribed fire’s escape.
Weather conditions, including increased humidity and lower wind speeds, are aiding containment efforts. Fire crews are expected to remain in the area over the weekend.
Further updates will be provided as the situation progresses and the investigation continues.