BREAKING: “Large Fire, Traveling Fast” Threatens Homes in Brookwood, Area Departments Responding
A major forest fire is burning in Tuscaloosa County Tuesday afternoon, threatening homes in Brookwood.
The Coaling Fire Protection District posted about the blaze on Facebook and asked for prayers for residents around Hammonds Drive & Hill Drive, where a "large fire, traveling fast" is reportedly threatening homes in the area.
The post said numerous fire departments are working hard to save homes.
Hollie Whigham, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Service, said the are assisting with the battle and dispatched several units on a request from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
The TFR engines and rescue truck were sent to Westside Road in Brookwood, Whigham said.
Deputy Jessica McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, confirmed they are responding along with the Alabama Forestry Commission, TFR, Brookwood Fire, Vance Police and Fire, Antioch Volunteer Fire Department, Coaling Fire Protection District and resources from the town of Lake View.
In addition to confirming reports of response on Hammonds Drive, Hill Drive and West Side Road, McDaniel said TCSO is also helping fight the wildfire around Bent Twig Lane.
UPDATE, 4 P.M.: Michelle Barnett, a spokesperson for the Alabama Forestry Commission, said their early estimate is that this wildfire has affected between 80 and 100 acres and consumed multiple structures.
She said the AFC has five bulldozers and eight firefighters on hand to assist local agencies in fighting the blaze. She said the cause of the fire is still unknown, but it is still an actively burning wildfire and Barnett said onlookers need to stay out of the area until it can be contained and extinguished.
An aerial photo provided by the Forestry Commission shows the scale of the fire,
UPDATE, 5 P.M.: Deputy Jessica McDaniel said at this time, there are no mandatory evacuations ordered for the area. At 7 p.m., McDaniel said the fire caused no injury or loss of life. Two homes have been deemed total losses, she said.
This is a breaking, developing story, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for updates as they become available.
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