``There is a wildfire slowly approaching the Davis Mountains Resort from the northwest. Due to the danger posed by this fire, DMR residents are urged to evacuate in a calm and orderly manner. ``There is time before the arrival of the fire to evacuate safely. Please take with you any necessary items especially medications. ``Once you have evacuated you cannot return until the emergency has passed. ``Someone will be at the cattleguard to check you out so we can account for as many residents as possible. ``Again once you have departed the DMR you will not be able to return until the emergency has passed. Thank you for your cooperation.'' Area residents began receiving automated notice of the evacuation by way of the Jeff Davis County Reverse 911 system Saturday evening. Jim Fowler with the FDVFD said that residents who need a place to stay can go to the Fort Davis Elementary School gymnasium. As of Friday afternoon, the Livermore Ranch fire was at 6,400 acres. There was a Heavy Helicopter on site and fire crews were conducting burnouts on the northern edge of the blaze. Wednesday evening, crews had the Livermore Ranch fire, which was burning at 6,031 acres, at 50 percent containment. Thursday's weather predictions called for winds from the west, gusting at 20-30 mph and dying down to 20 mph by afternoon with a relative humidity of 10 percent. Crews have requested the services of a Type II Helicopter from the Forest Service. The Valentine Volunteer Fire Department is working the Spring Ranch Fire, which is burning at 6,700 acres and is at 60 percent containment. There is no estimate of when the fire will be completely contained, but crews were pleased with the work they were able to do Wednesday and hope to have favorable conditions today to make more progress in containing the fire. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Livermore Ranch fire was 2,700 acres at 50 percent containment, primarily on the south and west sides. Fort Davis, Davis Mountain Resort and Valentine volunteer fire departments were working with the Texas Forest Service to put out the fire. Thursday's weather forecast called for hot and dry conditions with a high of 85 and 20 mph winds that were predicted to change direction from west to south, which would shift the fire away from Davis Mountain Resort. The Spring Mountain fire was at 3,600 acres and still inaccessible. The fire is being monitored by aircraft; a Texas Forest Service air tanker out of Alamogordo, New Mexico has been dropping retardant on both fires. The Jeff Davis County Volunteer Fire Department was battling several fires that had broken out in the county Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters were working to suppress a fire at Spring Mountain, which as of Wednesday afternoon was 3,430 acres at zero percent containment. Firefighters were also working to contain a fire near Livermore Ranch, which was at 2,300 acres and zero percent containment Wednesday afternoon. Firefighting aircraft had already been dispatched to the Livermore fire by Wednesday afternoon, along with two Forest Service taskforces. There was also a fire at Iron Mountain in Brewster County Wednesday morning, but Brewster County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Santry said Wednesday morning the 80-acre fire -- in an area surrounded by cedar trees and inaccessible by foot -- would be left to burn itself out.
DMR residents urged to evacuate