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Port Arthur brush fire burns 378 acres, is 100% contained

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. No injuries have been reported.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Firefighters with multiple agencies worked into the night Wednesday fighting a brush fire near Highway 73 and by Thursday morning it had burned out.

Highway 73 reopened by 8:15 a.m. Thursday morning after being shut down all night from Taylor Bayou Bridge to Labelle Rd going westbound and eastbound, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

A strike team from the Texas Forest service spent Thursday monitoring the fire and dealing with any hot spots that might flare up during the day according to Benson.

The fire, which burned 378 acres, is 100% contained according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer.

Port Arthur Fire Chief Gregory Benson tells 12News the fire was called in at 2:12 p.m. Tuesday.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. No injuries have been reported.

Port Arthur firefighters received assistance from the Texas A&M Forest Service, Hamshire Volunteer Fire Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and DPS. 

Benson says it's important that all agencies collaborate in a case like this because of the location.

A helicopter was dropping water to help contain the fire. 

Benson says crews are using a water tender, or water tanker, which helps transport water from a water source to a fire scene. A helicopter is also dropping water to help fight flames. 

As of 8:30 p.m., the fire has burned about 100 acres. 

Benson tells 12News Golden Pass LNG has an unground pipe near where the fire originated.

Holmes tells 12News visibility is near zero and people are asked to avoid the area.

"First responders need to battle the blaze and not worry about getting ran over," she said. 

TRAFFIC ALERT - HWY 73 near the Port Arthur landfill is shut down East and West bound due to a grass fire. Please use alternate routes as first responders fight the blaze.

Posted by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office-Texas on Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Credit: PAFD

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