Swift Response and Multi-Agency Effort Averts Disaster Following Grass Fire at Stanislaw and Sons Ranches

MILAM COUNTY, TX — Quick action, seamless interagency coordination, and favorable containment lines kept a potentially disastrous situation under control after a grass fire broke out at approximately 5:30 p.m. yesterday evening at the 700-acre Stanislaw and Son Ranch.

Tommy McCormick, an employee of Casey Stanislaw, guided a tour out to view the affected acreage in the aftermath of the blaze. Standing among the burn zones, it was striking to see how intense the heat had been in certain spots—where trees burned right down to the ground—while neighboring resilient desert plants like local cacti remained surprisingly untouched. The official report states that 13 acres were damaged by the fire.

Thanks to an overwhelming and rapid response from multiple regional emergency services, total disaster was averted. First responders successfully protected a neighboring family's cornfield on one side and a local wedding venue on the other. Minimal damage was ultimately sustained across the property, largely restricted to underbrush and mesquite trees.

Reflecting on the terrifying close call, Stanislaw and Son Ranch owner Casey Stanislaw shared his gratitude:

"Ann and I are simply overwhelmed with thanks to all of the first responders and neighbors who put themselves in harm’s way to keep the fire from spreading. We are truly appreciative."

A Unified Multi-Agency Effort

The successful containment was the result of a swift, collaborative multi-agency response. Units arriving on the scene to battle the blaze and secure the perimeter included:

• The Milam County Sheriff’s Department
• The Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department
• The Texas A&M Forest Service
• Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department
• Cameron Volunteer Fire Department
• Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department
• Roger's Volunteer Fire Department
• Milam County EMS

Local leaders emphasized that having immediate state back-up through the Texas A&M Forest Service—where local crews are just a phone call away from heavy-duty state resources—makes all the difference when ground conditions are bone-dry and fire lines are tested.

Constable Shoemake’s Safety Reminder

In the wake of the incident, Milam County Precinct 4 Constable Kirby Shoemake is reminding residents and property owners to exercise extreme caution and responsibility during outdoor tasks and yard work. Officials stress that community members should always keep a ready source of water on hand to quickly extinguish small sparks before they can spread. As this close call demonstrates, it only takes one small spark to threaten neighboring homes, livestock, and large tracts of land.

Tips and Tricks: Keeping Your Property Safe from Grass Fires

To protect local farms, ranches, and residential properties from the constant threat of grass fires, agricultural and fire safety experts recommend taking proactive precautions:

• Clear Defensive Perimeters: Maintain a clear zone around structures, homes, and fields by removing dry leaves, debris, woodpiles, and combustible underbrush.
• Smart Mowing Practices: Raise your mower blades higher to avoid striking hidden rocks, which can easily throw sparks into dry grass. Avoid mowing during the hottest, windiest parts of the day.
• Prune Low-Hanging Branches: Clear low branches on trees (pruning them up roughly 6 to 10 feet from the ground) to prevent a ground fire from laddering up into the tree crowns.
• Keep Water and Tools Ready: Always have a charged garden hose, buckets of water, a rake, and a shovel immediately accessible whenever performing outdoor maintenance or burning is permitted.
• Establish Clear Access: Ensure that local fire departments and emergency responders can easily access your gates, property lines, and water tanks in the event of an emergency.