Potter County grass fire 90% contained, Hutchinson County fire 100% contained

VIDEO: Potter County grass fire 55% contained, Hutchinson County fire 100% contained
Published: Apr. 4, 2023 at 3:02 PM CDT|Updated: Apr. 7, 2023 at 6:09 PM CDT
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Amarillo, Texas (KFDA) - Strong winds and grass fires in the Panhandle Oklahoma area are causing travel concerns.

Potter County:

Crews are continuing to fight a grass fire in the area of Cliffside Helium Plant in Potter County.

The Amarillo Fire Department says the fire is around 8,118 acres and 90 percent contained.

The Texas A&M Forest Tree Services says there is no smoke across the fire area.

All traffic lanes of US 287 have reopened, and all evacuation have been cleared and residents are good to return home.

According to the release from the Potter County Fire Rescue, BNSF trains were halted in the area.

Texas A&M Forest Service and Potter County Road and bridge assets were requested.

Fire crews were focusing efforts of line construction along the right flank of the fire.

TIFMAS resources are working on structure protection and additional resources are being brought from Childress.

PCFR requested a first alarm from Amarillo Fire Department for structure protection and possible evacuations in the Park Circle neighborhood on North highway 287.

Officials are asking to avoid the area until further notice.

VIDEO: Potter County fire crews responding to grass fire

Hutchinson County:

Officials say the evacuation for Beverly Hills has been lifted since 4 p.m. Tuesday and residents can return home.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire is 64.4 acres and 100 percent contained.

The fire started about 2:44 p.m. on Ranch-to-Market Road 3474 north of Borger.

TxDOT says SH 136 north of Borger has reopened.

New Mexico:

The Easter New Mexico News has announced that blowing dust and multiple accidents temporarily closed parts of U.S. 70 this afternoon.
The area is between Muleshoe and Farwell but officials have reopened the road at about 4 p.m.
Conditions remain dangerous.

Union County:

Crews responded to a grass fire on Highway 64/87 at MM 427.

The release says Clayton Fire and Rescue has contained the fire at this time.

Officials ask to please move over for emergency vehicles and to slow down in the area.

Beaver County:

Oklahoma Department of Transportation have reopened all lanes of north and southbound US-83 between the Oklahoma-Texas state line and US-64 junction, near Turpin.

Officials say the visibility was very limited due to the high winds.

This is the view from Trooper Tanner Bozarth #217's vehicle on US-83 in Beaver County, south of Bryans Corner. There is...

Posted by Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Tuesday, April 4, 2023