As of 6 p.m. the fire along Ike Road in Ellis County is 100 percent contained, with an estimated 250 acres burned.  While 20 homes were threatened, necessitating the temporary evacuation of 20 families, all the structures have been saved and families are being allowed back into the area.  All roads are now open to through traffic.             

One travel trailer, one truck, and one boat were lost in the fire.           

Preliminary indications are that the fire was started accidentally during normal agricultural use of mowing equipment.  It began at approximately 12:15 p.m.           

Some 17 brush trucks and a total of 25 pieces of equipment responded to the fire, including four single-engine planes that dropped 12 loads of fire retardant.  With 17 Ellis County agencies responding to the Ike Road fire, two Hill County volunteer fire departments travelled to Ellis County to cover any other calls that might come in.  Red Cross volunteers were activated to provide support to responders at the command post.  Air Evac provided air reconnaissance assistance.           

The Forestry Service mop-up team will be working for approximately two more days, with Emergency Service District #6 handling fire watch overnight tonight.