A wildfire in the Dallas County city of Wilmer burned approximately 65 acres before being brought under control by more than a dozen local agencies. The Wilmer Fire Department stated that no injuries were reported and that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
The blaze occurred near Patrick Baptist Church in Ferris, located on Parkinson Road. Pastor Tyler Poole, who was on the property with his family and about ten other church members, described seeing the fire roughly 200 yards away shortly after 4:30 p.m.
Poole noted that strong winds suggested the flames were moving toward the church, prompting the group to evacuate people, secure valuables inside the building, and remove animals from the area.
Poole remained in the parking lot until the fire reached the fence line and smoke became pervasive, at which point he left to avoid interfering with emergency operations. He later viewed aerial footage showing the surrounding area ablaze while the church property and a small house behind it remained untouched. Poole stated that the group, including the church cat named Mango, was safely evacuated.
Assistance was provided by Dallas Fire-Rescue, Dallas County Fire and Sheriffs, and fire departments from Hutchins, Bristol, Combine, Ferris, Red Oak, Ennis, Palmer, Seagoville, and Crandall. Poole expressed gratitude for the response, noting that firefighters arrived before the group could even place a call. He described the experience as frightening but emphasized the priority of ensuring the safety of people over property.
