Texas wildfire conditions ease; weather a concern

Firefighters in Texas faced calmer weather conditions Saturday while attacking deadly wind-driven wildfires, but worried that approaching thunderstorms could create new problems.

Bill Beebe, a spokesman for the Texas Forest Service, said conditions were “pretty quiet,” though firefighters had yet to contain more than 122,000 burning acres, including two new fires in East Texas.

The major concern was lightning from thunderstorms predicted for Sunday could spark additional fires, he said.

“We’re bracing possibly for some difficult times,” he said.

In neighboring Oklahoma, grass fires that have plagued the state in recent days flared up again Saturday in two counties, prompting temporary evacuations.