U.S. 287 between Wichita Falls, Henrietta reopens after wildfire causes closure

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Firefighters are battling a wildfire in Clay County near Jolly. Here are the latest updates:

UPDATE - 6:37 p.m.:

TxDOT has confirmed that U.S. 287 between Wichita Falls and Henrietta has reopened.

UPDATE - 6:20 p.m.:

Clay County Sheriff Jeff Lyde said firefighters are taking care of what’s left of the fire near U.S. 287.

UPDATE - 6 p.m.:

Texas A&M Forest Service officials estimate the fire is 3,500 acres and 15% contained.

UPDATE - 5 p.m.:

Firefighters are still working to extinguish the remaining part of the fire in Clay County.

Archer County Sheriff Jack Curd said they only know of one hay barn that has been lost in the fire so far.

Clay County Judge Mike Campbell said in an update on Facebook that about 10 cows have died.

UPDATE - 3:51 p.m.

News Channel 6′s Tanner Deleon spoke with interim Holliday Chief of Police Kayla Stevens about Tuesday’s wildfire.

UPDATE - 3:35 p.m.

Wichita County Sheriff David Duke released more information on Tuesday’s fire. The fire reportedly started in Archer County, traveled northeast to Wichita County, and it then moved into Clay County.

Duke said U.S. 287 will be closed for at least another three hours. He said no homes in Wichita County caught fire, and that the fire is mostly out in Archer and Wichita counties.

Three Texas A&M Forest Service planes are reportedly dropping water from Lake Arrowhead onto the fire. All three sheriff’s offices are working together, along with Texas DPS, Texas A&M Forest Service and several fire departments from the area.

UPDATE - 3:23 p.m.:

Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde gave another update on the fire that is south of Jolly on FM 2393. Firefighters are reportedly battling it just south of Pitts Road.

UPDATE - 3:04 p.m.:

Texas A&M Forest Service PIO Angel Portillo said at least 54 homes in Jolly have been evacuated.

UPDATE - 3 p.m.:

Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde said the fire has now reached FM 2393 and firefighters trying to prevent it from crossing the road.

UPDATE - 2:58 p.m.:

TxDOT officials confirmed U.S. 287 is closed between Wichita Falls and Henrietta due to smoke coming from the nearby wildfire. The closure is reportedly between Highway 79 outside of Wichita Falls and State Hwy 148 in Henrietta.

UPDATE - 2:50 p.m.:

Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde said the fire is reportedly heading toward FM 2393, about a mile south of Jolly.

Firefighters are using airplanes to help fight the fire.

UPDATE - 2:25 p.m.:

Northbound U.S. 287 between Henrietta and Jolly is closed, according to Texas DPS. FM 2393 near the Jolly Truck Stop is also closed, according to our crews on scene.

UPDATE - 2:15 p.m.:

The Texas A&M Forest Service estimates the fire is 400 acres and 0% contained as of 2:15 p.m.

ORIGINAL STORY - 1 p.m.:

Firefighters were battling a large fire in southeast Wichita County.

Sheriff David Duke said homes were being evacuated near Arrowhead Ranch Estates, and that the fire was heading into Clay County. The Wichita Co. Sheriff’s Office and several fire departments responded the area east of Hammon Rd. and Rathgeber Rd., south of U.S. 287.

News Channel 6 crews are on the scene. This article will be updated with the latest information as we receive it.

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