Fire under control

MIDLAND COUNTY Marc McPeters and her son, Leonard, were on opposite sides of the spectrum after a fire burned 2,500 acres in Midland County.

"I feel pretty fortunate and blessed that my house didn't get caught in the fire," Marc McPeters said as she was bottle-feeding a baby goat. "Unfortunately, my son lost two trailers in the fire."

Leonard McPeters said the doublewide trailer he lived in and another trailer that he owned were burned Thursday in the flames on FM 1208.

Texas Forest Service public information officer John Bear said McPeter's trailers were two of five that were lost in the "Price Fire" that burned along North FM 1208 and East Interstate 20.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, Bear said the fire was 75 percent contained. The cause hadn't yet been found.

Leonard McPeters said he wasn't worried because the lost homes may be part of a bigger plan.

"God's in control of all that," he said as he stroked his long, red beard. "He knows what's best, so I just go with what he says."

In fact, McPeters said getting a sinus infection may have also saved his life.

"I was staying at my mom's house because I was sick," he said. "If I wasn't here, I'd probably be asleep in the trailer as the fire began. Who knows what would have happened."

Leonard McPeters said he did risk his life as he rushed over to his trailer to save his two cats.

"My two kids are going to be devastated when they find out about the cats and the trailers," he said. "They don't even know yet. They're staying with their mom, so they'll find out on Sunday."

Marc McPeters said she was certain that her home would see the same fate as her son's trailers.

"I had fire reach right up to the east and north ends of my property gates," she said. "I don't know why my house didn't burn, too. The fire was right at my fence and didn't jump over."

The elder McPeters said she was almost as concerned about her five goats, 14 chickens and six dogs.

"I let them loose and wasn't sure if I would see them again," she said. "But wouldn't you know it, when I got back home at 9 p.m., they were all lying there in the garage."

McPeters said there has to be an ultimate reason why her animals and son all came out safe.

"There's no other way to explain something like this," she said. "I've said this already, but we're just blessed. We're being watched over."

MORE GRASS FIRES

>> Pecos County Huckabee Fire: This fire is 30 miles southwest of Fort Stockton, of Gray Ranch Road, and burned 50,000 acres since Thursday. The Mitchell Gas and the Pucket Plant Gas facilities were threatened by the fire but saved by the Texas Forest Service with one unoccupied structure lost.

>> Pecos County Mestena Fire: This fire is located 30 miles southeast of Fort Stockton on Highway 285. It burned 697 acres and one outbuilding was lost. The fire was 90 percent contained late Friday.

>> Howard County Train Fire: This fire is located near mile marker 165 on Interstate 20. It burned 322 acres and was 80 percent contained late Friday.

>> Brewster County Cathedral Fire: This is an inaccessible fire that sparked up on Sunday, near East Highway 90. The fire torched 23,000 acres and was 55 percent contained late Friday.

>> Crockett County Acton Fire: This fire is 30 miles southwest of Ozona. About 212 acres were burned and it was 85 percent contained late Friday. Crews are continuing to patrol and mop-up along the fire edge.