UPDATE: Thomas Pechal with Temple Fire and Rescue said Wednesday's grass fire on Loop 363 was the result of an unpermitted controlled burn.

"The person responsible was issued a citation by investigators with the Temple Fire Marshal’s Office," Pechal said. "Individuals residing inside Temple who wish to burn must first contact the Fire Marshal’s Office to obtain a burn permit. Bell County residents living in unincorporated areas should contact the Bell County Fire Marshal Office for county burning requirements."


Temple firefighters were battling a grass fire on the east side of town Wednesday afternoon.

Department spokesperson Thomas Pechal issued an alert at 2:18 PM about the fire near Northeast HK Dodgen Loop just north of Lavendusky Drive.

Pechal said the Temple Fire & Rescue East Side Strike Team had been activated in response to the fire.

The announcement came a few hours after reports of a massive house fire in Nolanville that claimed one life and injured two firefighters.

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