Grassfire burns 500 acres

A grass fire in north Crane County burned more than 500 acres Monday afternoon and smoke made travel difficult on Ranch Road 1601.

The Odessa Fire Department, the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department, the Crane Fire Department and the Texas Forest Service all responded to the blaze that was near the Ector County line.

"It's big," Odessa Fire Department Battalion Chief Kavin Tinney said. "It's 500 to 600 acres. About a mile wide and three-quarters of a mile deep."

Tinney said the call came in about 5:30 p.m. No structures were in danger but Tinney said some oil flow lines and natural gas lines were burning.

Four TFS air attack airplanes were circling the sky to assist in putting the flames out and the Ector County Sheriff's Department was blocking all but emergency traffic on Ranch Road 1601, about five miles from Interstate 20.

Tinney said the OFD won't investigate the cause of the fire but said it likely began as an electrical fire. No injuries were reported and OFD said the fire was out by Monday evening.