The Brownwood Fire Department issued the following press release Monday:

At approximately 7:44 pm on Sunday, December 28, 2025, the Brownwood Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire located in rural Brown County.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a fully involved structure fire that had already vented through the side of the house. At the time of the fire the winds were 20 mph sustained with gusts to 40 mph. The fire was wind-driven, which created extremely hazardous conditions and accelerated the fire spread throughout the building.

Firefighters immediately initiated a defensive attack due to the advanced stage of the fire. Additional resources were requested from multiple departments to assist in controlling the blaze and protecting nearby exposures. The strong winds significantly influenced fire behavior, making suppression efforts challenging and requiring strategic positioning for firefighter safety.

Due to the blowing embers multiple brush trucks were requested to manage numerous spot fires. Due to the absence of fire hydrants in the immediate vicinity, Brown County Fire Departments had to transport approximately 40,000 gallons of water from the City of Brownwood to the fire scene. This large-scale water shuttle operation was critical to sustaining firefighting efforts throughout the incident and preventing damage to surrounding properties.

To control this large fire 55 firefighters responded in 31 different fire apparatus.

Assistant Fire Chief Jody Horton expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by neighboring departments: “We want to thank our mutual aid partners, including the Bangs, Brookesmith, Blanket, Early, Winchell, Zephyr Fire Departments, Lifeguard Ambulance, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brownwood Police Dispatch, Brown County Emergency Management, Brown County Commissioners, Brown County Fire Marshal and Oncor for their rapid response and teamwork. Their support was critical in containing this wind-driven fire and preventing further damage to surrounding properties. The coordination and dedication shown by all Brown County departments ensured we had the resources needed to fight this fire safely and effectively.”

All occupants had safely exited the building before the fire department arrived. No injuries were reported. There is no suspicious activity suspected, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Brown County Fire Marshal.

Damage is estimated at $1,750,000.

With fire season upon us the Brownwood Fire Department would like to remind residents to ensure working smoke alarms are installed in all living areas and to have an evacuation plan in place.