In the photo:  A cedar post smolders after fire raced through a rural area in northern Brown County.

Fanned by winds of 40 mph, a grass fire quickly spread Thursday over northern Brown County.  As of 6:19 pm Thursday, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported the fire to be 85% contained with a burn area of 700 acres. Much of the fire fight was concentrated in pastures and wooded areas north and south of County Road 411, west/southwest of the community of May.

Several area volunteer fire departments were on scene along with equipment and personnel supplied by County Commissioner Joel Kelton, dozers from the Texas A&M Forest Service and even area landowners helping in controlling the fire.  Road graders and dozers were being used to cut fire lines around the perimeter of the fire.

An official cause has not been announced.

A truck belonging to the Texas Forestry Service brought dozers to build fire lines to help control a large grass fire on Thursday on CR 411, west of Highway 183, not far from the community of May, Texas.