Trash fire scorches more than 500 acres in San Isidro

SAN ISIDRO - A Starr County man was ticketed for illegal burning after a trash fire he started grew out of control and torched 520 acres.

About 65 firefighters spent six hours bringing the flames under control. Low humidity and winds that picked up right after the man started the fire fueled the blaze, said Tony Peña, Hidalgo County's emergency management coordinator.

Starr and Hidalgo counties have burn bans in effect.

No structures were damaged or injuries reported after the fire burned portions of La Reforma Ranch along Farm-to-Market Road 1017, south of Delmita Road.

Firefighters spent much of the time concerned about 22 oil and gas wells that were threatened by the blaze but not damaged.

The ranch owner moved his cattle away two weeks ago from where the fire burned.

Firefighters contained the flames by 8 p.m., seven hours after they first arrived, Peña said. But firefighters expected to be at the scene most of today dealing with hot spots.

The man who was ticketed - Peña did not have his name - did not expect the fire to get out of control, Peña said. Some residents believe the light rain received this weekend lessens the danger, but Peña said grass is still too dry.

"Unless we have steady rain for many weeks, it's not going to make a difference," Peña said "We have a burn ban in place for a reason."