200-acre fire

BREWSTER COUNTY Firefighters are currently battling a fire that has grown to nearly 200 acres and has threatened several homes south of Alpine, Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said Tuesday evening.

As of 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, two homes were in immediate danger, and as many as eight were previously threatened by approaching flames, Dodson said.

Firefighters from Alpine, Fort Davis and the Texas Forest Service were sending trucks, bulldozers and airplanes over the fire to put it out.

The fire started at about 1:50 p.m. when someone performing work with a blow torch accidentally started a blaze, Dodson said. That man inhaled some of the smoke, but no serious injuries were reported.