Six homes destroyed by fire

A 25-acre wildfire Thursday caused mass chaos in northwest Odessa - among other things destroying six homes.

The blaze - which officials suspect the cause of was electrical in nature - also:

>> Took nearly five hours to put out.

>> Destroyed five to eight storage buildings.

>> Threatened 100 homes.

>> Caused the self evacuation of about 150 people.

>> Changed ECISD bus routes in the area.

>> Darkened the north Odessa skies for hours.

>> Destroyed six homes, displacing seven people.

Students who couldn't be bused home, as well as those who had to leave their homes because of imminent fire danger were sent to Barbara Jordan Elementary, Ector County Sheriff's deputy Gary Duesler said..

The Texas Forest Service, which is calling the blaze the Yukon Road Fire, responded to the major wildfire in northwest Odessa with airdrops of water to combat the 25-acre blaze, which was in the area south of Judy Road, north of Yukon Road, west of Maurene Street and east of West Loop 338.

Odessa dispatch got the initial call about a fire about 1 p.m. Thursday at 2706 W. Yukon Road.

India Day, a 21-year-old Odessan, was moving her horse, Moon, away from the fire shortly after heavy smoke blanketed the sky. She said she was very worried because the fire was threatening her home.

"We live right next to one of the homes on fire," Day said. "We're just trying to get as much of our stuff out of there as possible."

Day was among many in that area fleeing the blaze. Only one minor injury was reported, a person who person was treated for breathing problems.

"It's amazing with all the winds out here that no one was injured," Duesler said. "There is a God."

According to the National Weather Service, winds gusted Thursday up to 45 mph. Sustained winds were recorded at 37 mph.

On the other hand, West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jimmy Ellis said Thursday's mass destruction wasn't a surprise.

"This is my worst fear," he said about the number of homes destroyed. "I've been telling people something like this was going to happen, and it did."

Ellis' West Odessa volunteers were among numerous agencies that responded to the scene. Odessa firefighters, West Odessa volunteers, Gardendale volunteers, Goldsmith volunteer, Midland firefighters, Odessa police officers, Ector County sheriff's deputies and Emergency Operations Center officials busily worked the blaze.

"If they're in the Odessa area, and they're in uniform, they're here," Duesler said.

The American Red Cross was notified and responded to assist. Volunteers at West County Road and Yukon were handing out water and sandwiches to firefighters and law enforcement officials.

There were also multiple West Odessa residents who helped out in the fire.

"We don't even live here, but we saw the fire and had to help out," Howard Barina said as he was handing his wife, Beth, a fire hose. "These are our people. We're going to help out when they need us."

A load of vehicles pulled over Thursday afternoon on Yukon Road as passersby stopped to watch large flames engulf neighboring homes and yards.

Dogs and horses near the massive plume of smoke barked and neighed in fear of the pending danger but none were injured.

If you have any photographs or video of the fire that you'd like to share, please e-mail oanews@oaoa.com or call 333-7714. Video can also be submitted here: http://www.oaoa.com/video/submit/ and photos can be submitted here: http://www.oaoa.com/share/photo/submit/?plckGalleryID=394ff9ee-3bf7-4560-9287-68a5e595c52d