Written by Amanda Coers – A grass fire call just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17th, led to a concentrated effort by the Brownwood Fire Department with the partnership of the Early, Lake Dam, and Zephyr Fire Departments to control a barn fire blazing near a residential area on Lori Lane in South Brownwood.

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Photo at top: From Facebook – credited to Robby Jackson

According to Fire Marshal Buddy Preston, the fire was burning up a hill towards several homes. The blaze is believed to have started in a large barn where goats, ducks, and chickens were housed. Although unconfirmed at this time, the cause of the fire may have originated from a heat lamp used to warm young chicks inside the barn.

The barn was engulfed in flames and is considered a total loss. Around 2 acres of land surrounding the barn were burned in the blaze.

As the flames creeped towards their homes, residents coordinated their own efforts to assist firefighters, utilizing garden hoses to wet the area. One home has been reported to be damaged by the fire.

Firefighters were working in the area until the early hours of Wednesday morning to ensure the residents’ safety.

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Safety Tips for Using Heat Lamps to Warm Livestock:

• When mounting a heat lamp, it is best to maintain a 24” minimum distance from anything the lamp could touch.
• The majority of the heat is projected away from the bulb, but users should remember the heat lamp fixture can also become hot. Take precautions to ensure the reflector or fixture is not in contact with anything that could burn.
• Check the cord for cuts, abrasions or pinch marks. Never use a damaged cord for anything. It is safest to use a heavy gauge cord with a 12 gauge wire and 3 conductors.
• It is recommended to use a 250 watt rated brooder lamp fixture when using a 250 watt infrared heat bulb.