Dec. 30, 2005
 
Texas Town Devastated by Wildfires Vows: ‘We’ll Rebuild’
 
By Jerry Daniel Reed and Celinda Emison
Scripps Howard News Service
 

Dec. 29, 2005 Cross Plains, TX _ Roger Hinkle stares at the burning remains of the Cross Plains home he shared with his father Tuesday night, December 27, 2005. Hinkle said he had lived in the 100-year-old home since he was two weeks old. A member of the volunteer fire department, he came into town this afternoon from Abilene expecting to fight the fire but never dreamt he would lose his home to it. His father was unharmed. (SHNS photo by Ronald W. Erdrich/ Abilene Reporter-News)

Cross Plains, TX (SHNS) -- Scores of people poked through ashes for any salvageable possessions here after a wind-whipped wildfire roared into town, and officials warned New Year's Eve revelers against shooting fireworks because of the threat of more blazes.
 
''These are very desperate conditions that we're in now,'' said Gary Young, fire chief of the Elm Creek Community Association. ''These are the wrong conditions for the use of fireworks of any kind under any circumstances.'' Two people were killed in Cross Plains, and officials reported 116 homes destroyed. Cross Plains is a town of 1,070 people -- all of whom were ordered out during the Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005 fires.
 
Disaster emergency workers were busy helping supply the short-term needs of the suddenly homeless. A Red Cross shelter was set up in a Baptist church, and a bank began accepting donations for victims.
 

Dec. 29, 2005 Cross Plains, TX _ In some neighborhoods the fire consumed some houses while leaving others relatively unharmed. Cross Plains resident Jeremy Box, center, searches for work tools through the ashes of his home with help from his brother Ricky Box, left, and friend Billy Lee. (SHNS photo by Victor Cristales/Abilene Reporter-News)

As the fire swept into Cross Plains, "I was just about to cook a meal," said one resident, Mary Blankenship. "The smoke was real black and when it got closer to the ground, we left."
 
The surging fire burned some structures to the ground while leaving others next door intact.
 
"I got out here and watered it good when I saw the fire was coming northwest of us," said Conga Odom of his grandmother's house. "I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not."
 
The neighboring house to the north was leveled by the flames, as was another nearby house. The house directly across the street, however, was spared, he said.
 
First United Methodist Church of Cross Plains was destroyed. But members vowed to rise above adversity.
 
"We'll rebuild. This is a very tight church, and great people go to church here," said head usher Bryan Bennett. "We're going to have church here Sunday morning in the parking lot."
 
The church fire was a double blow to pastor Jim Senkel, who also lost his home when the parsonage immediately north of the church burned, Bennett said.
 
Conditions greatly favored the fire over the firefighters, said Ron Perry of the Texas Forest Service in San Angelo.
 
"They were up against a tremendous force coming through here," he said _ mainly high winds and low humidity. Forest service personnel were stretched thin responding to the outbreak of 73 wildfires in north and central Texas, he said.
 

Dec. 29, 2005 Cross Plains, TX _ Tom Stephenson, 71, digs through the ashes of First United Methodist Church in Cross Plains searching for pieces of stained glass to salvage which church members hope to use for a window when they rebuild their church. A fire storm ripped through the rural community Tuesday destroying more than 60 structures and killing 2 people. (SHNS photo by Victor Cristales/Abilene Reporter-News)

But many agencies, including 30 fire departments, pitched in to battle the blazes, he said.
 
The fire outside town consumed large swatches of pasture and killed an undetermined number of grazing cows.
 
Some fire victims' immediate futures were uncertain. "I don't know," said Connie Potter of her plans as she viewed the ruins of her home. "I haven't got that far yet."
 
The house was insured, but its contents weren't, she said. And she had just reached the end of renovations required for a flood that swept through her home four months ago, she said.
 
But Potter and her daughter, Rickie Potter Brown, were philosophical as they searched for belongings. Four years ago, another one of Potter's daughters died.
 
"This is not the worst thing we have been through," Brown said.
 
Sarah Kleiner contributed to this report.