Smoke continued to billow from the aftermath of a fire at the Addicks Reservoir on Monday. The blaze, which ignited on Sunday, was ultimately transformed into a controlled burn by firefighting crews, who are now in the process of tapering off their response efforts.
The fire, located near Interstate 10 and Eldridge Parkway, began as a grass fire. Firefighters responded early to reports of smoke but faced challenges due to the cold weather, which obscured visibility of the flames. Additional resources, including drones, were deployed to assist in the assessment.
Upon further investigation, crews identified a significant column of smoke, leading to the activation of the wildland fire team, which comprises 45 personnel trained for such incidents. As of Monday afternoon, the fire had consumed approximately 105 acres and was reported to be 99% contained.
Officials expressed concerns regarding air quality on Monday; however, they confirmed that there is currently no significant threat to air quality in the area. Fire crews plan to remain on-site until the fire is entirely extinguished, which could take anywhere from one to several days as they allow the remaining flames to eliminate years of accumulated debris, thereby reducing future fire risks.
On Monday, some smoke was still visible rising from certain patches of the wooded area affected by the fire. The Houston Fire Department is collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas A&M Forestry Service to manage the situation effectively.
In light of the ongoing conditions, fire officials are advising anyone using open flames to be cautious of any sparks that may arise. With the area’s low humidity levels, the surrounding environment is particularly dry, creating a heightened risk for the fire to spread quickly.
At this time, there is no information available regarding the cause of the fire.
