VIEW, Texas — It’s day three of the Mesquite Heat fire that has been burning non-stop and continues in Taylor County.
View Volunteer Fire Department in Precinct One is being used as a staging area for arriving resources, equipment and personnel looking to help firefighters with anything they need.
“Our assistant manager actually lives in Buffalo Gap and they were evacuated last night. So I was like, you know what? We're going to take them some ice cream to help them out because they helped us out,” Dad’s Ice Cream truck owner, Candise Davis, said.
Fuel is needed for the fire trucks being used, so the Texas Department of Transportation Abilene District is supporting efforts by providing fuel for trucks and equipment.
In a Facebook post Thursday, Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams said an estimated 50-60 homes have been lost as a result of the fire.
The American Red Cross has been on the ground working to help families who may have lost their homes and guiding them through this difficult time.
“Currently, we're providing shelter. So that's the biggest thing right now because of evacuation, because of the evacuation effort. That's what we're focusing on. We're focusing on making sure that all the individuals have a roof over their head and are able to provide some type of feeding,” American Red Cross representative, Christopher Bankhead, said.
The Firefighter's Closet in Grape Creek is accepting donations of supplies and clothing for men, women and children. Drop-off locations are Kelly's Auto Repair/KC Auto Sales, 3217 N. Chadbourne St.; or the Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 7912 Wren Road.
