Hewitt fire chief details mutual aid response to large Texas fires, says crews returned after intense conditions

Hewitt’s Fire Chief briefed the City Council on a recent mutual aid deployment to a large Texas fire complex, describing extreme conditions, an all‑hazards response and significant community impact.

The chief said Hewitt personnel were sent as part of a strike team on an all‑hazards assignment (an engine with staffing support) and took part in suppression, hot‑spot work and community assistance. He reported the deployment dates as Feb. 28 to March 11 and said crews returned earlier than a typical two‑week assignment because of operational decisions. "This was the largest ever in Texas history," the chief said in describing the Smokehouse Creek incident and noted the complex included multiple large fires, including a separate Windy Deuce fire.

The chief described difficult conditions encountered en route and on scene, including snow, sand and ash storms that reduced visibility. He described one community the strike team assisted as having more than 250 structures burned and no functioning water, power or gas service; Hewitt crews helped suppress remaining fires, establish helicopter evacuation/landing areas and provide critical incident support.

During the deployment the strike team also responded to a structure fire in that same community; the local volunteer fire department lost its chief during the incident and the Hewitt crews helped with triage and on‑scene support. The Hewitt chief said the strike team remained to provide community outreach and continuing assistance after the initial suppression work.

Council members thanked the department for its response. The report was informational; no council action was required.