CEDAR CREEK LAKE–As triple digit temperatures and zero chances of rain add fuel to the already burning fire of a drought, firefighters are seeing an increase in fast spreading wildfires. 
A wildfire that burned nearly 100 acres between Eustace and Athens July 6 called upon 12 departments, the Texas Forrest Service, Fire Marshal, Emergency Medical Services, Red Cross, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Precincts 1, 2 and 4. 
The fire was already spreading by the time Henderson County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg was notified at 4:54 p.m. He was warned that it was nearing structures and spreading quickly. The fire caused Farm to Market Road 2709 to be shut down in both directions. 
An evacuation area was established at the Eustace High School Gym parking lot and one residence ended up being evacuated. 
The fire included inaccessible areas of woods, which caused firefighters from the Texas Fire Service and Baxter Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) to use bulldozers to cut firebreaks around the wildfire. 
Drones confirmed that 95% of the fire had been contained by 7:30 p.m by HCSO, Trinidad VFD and the Texas Forest Service. 
Renberg says that the area will be smoldering for days and looks to be caused by sparks from a vehicle on the roadway. 
Payne Springs Fire Rescue responded to a fire located on Inca Trail. Responders arrived to find a small grass fire and downgraded the response to a single brush truck. The cause of this fire was from a dead tree that went into the powerlines. Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative was notified and a few houses were without power. 
On the west side of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points, a 12-acre fire near County Road 2138 occurred in the evening of July 7. Renberg confirmed that at 8:55 p.m. the fire had moved into the woods. Around 9:20 p.m. firefighters had the fire 90% contained but not before spreading to 20 acres. Once the fire was contained Renberg announced that there were several hay bales still smoldering. 
Renberg reported 44 fires last week and noted that there have been 153 wildfires within the county since June 1. Henderson County remains critically dry according to the Texas Forest Service. Payne Springs Fire Rescue Chief Adam Robinson suggested creating a defensible space if you live in an area like the ones where fires have occurred. Visit www.readyforwildfire.org for more information on a defensible space.