Area fires

The Texas Forest Service officials continued work on the north and east sides of a fire 42 miles south-southwest of Fort Stockton and 15 miles east of Alpine, according to a Sunday news release.

The fire started at 1 p.m. Friday and TFS officials said the fire is in 7,500 acres of tall grass with a mix of Mesquite and Juniper shrubs. By 8 a.m. Sunday, the fire was 80 percent contained.

"Better relative humidity recovery overnight and high relative humidity during the day helped firefighters gain the upper hand," said Jeanne Eastham, TFS public information officer.

A 135-acre fire 7 miles south of Marathon was 85 percent contained at 5 p.m. Sunday. TFS crews responded and continue to "mop up and contain" the blaze.

In Crockett County, a 125-acre fire at Smith Ranch was 90 percent contained Sunday and another fire at Childress Ranch was 95 percent contained at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The Childress Ranch fire started May 15 when lightning struck the 2,740 acres of land. TFS has been working on containment since that time and full containment is expected by May 31.

In Val Verde County, 680 acres of land was ablaze recently and it reached 95 percent containment Saturday. TFS officials have turned the fire over to local fire departments. Containment on this fire is expected by Saturday.