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| Wednesday,
April 19, 2017 | Printed on recycled paper
Hereford BRAND Volume 116 | Number 84 WHAT'S INSIDE
Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
10 pages | $1.00
‘Very dangerous situation’
Fire wreaks havoc on businesses, traffic, trains Monday School calendar adds planning days Page 3
Ranchers, farmers have unique wealth Page 5
Errors put Herd into PD corral Page 9
FORECAST
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Potential disaster was averted Monday as city, county, regional, state and other officials confronted a fire in the silos at Hereford Grain on First Street. The blaze were first reported shortly after 5 a.m., Monday and burned throughout most of the day. Hereford Fire Marshall Dean Turney established a 1,000-foot evacuation perimeter around the structure that closed First Street (U.S. 60) from Park Avenue to U.S. 385, as well as up to Third Street along that corridor in Hereford. In addition to rerouting highway traffic and halting rail traffic, the evacuation forced the closure of numerous businesses in the affected area, as well as the evacuation of at least 20 homes. Hereford Police Chief Brent Harrison issued a statement shortly after 10 p.m., Monday that the blaze
Heavy smoke billows from the top of Hereford Grain as a fire in its silos started in pre-dawn hours and burned throughout day – forcing evacuations within a 1,000-foot perimeter, rerouting of road traffic on U.S. 60 through Hereford and the halting of rail traffic until lifted shortly after 10 p.m. BRAND/John Carson
Today
Sunny High: 90º Low: 53º
Sunrise: 7:12 a.m. Sunset: 8:25 p.m. Wind: SW 18 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 35% UV Index: 9 of 10
Thursday
Mostly Sunny/Wind High: 74º Low: 50º
Sunrise: 7:11 a.m. Sunset: 8:26 p.m. Wind: NE 21 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 54% UV Index: 9 of 10
Friday
Partly Cloudy/Wind High: 78º Low: 41º
Sunrise: 7:09 a.m. Sunset: 8:27 p.m. Wind: WNW 20 MPH Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 51% UV Index: 9 of 10
HEREFORD HISTORY 24 years ago • April 19, 1993
The Agony of Victory Hereford’s Quincy Curtis grimaces from the pain of a strained hamstring as he approaches the finish line. Curtis, the anchor of Hereford’s 400- mile relay, withstood the pain and finished first in the event.
INDEX
Obituaries................2 News.........................3 Opinion.....................4 Agriculture.............5 Community...........6,10 Classifieds...............7 Religion..................8 Sports......................9
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With most of the initial part of the inferno at the top of the 160foot silos and no equipment capable of reaching those heights, fire officials were forced to back off and allow the fire to burn itself out before a BNSF haz-mat team was able to provide assistance Monday evening. BRAND/John Carson
was “under control” and the evacuation was lifted. “It mostly burned out all the combustible material, especially at the top,” Turney said Tuesday. “BNSF Railroad brought in a haz-mat team from Fort Worth, and we discussed and agreed on how to attack it. [The hazmat team] did the work. “They flooded the boot pit with foam and water, as well as covering the floor well. If any debris fell, that would prevent a dust explosion. Those efforts dramatically dropped the temperature in the bottom of the silos. There are still some fires, but we will have that for days.” Turney added he was able to send local firefighters, police and city workers home a short time later, while adding that BNSF crews remained on the scene overnight. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) infrared photographs taken from a helicopter during the day showed extreme temperatures in three of the silos and fires burning in at least two others. Additional DPS infrared pictures taken Tuesday morning show “no hot spots,” according to Turney. “We were very lucky noth-
Thick black smoke spills from Hereford Grain as conveyor belts, other synthetic materials and machinery burn shortly after the fire started at approximately 5 a.m., Monday. DPS photo ing else happened,” Hereford Assistant City Manager Steve Bartels said. “It could have been much, much worse.” While the evacuation created traffic problems, loss of income for some busi-
nesses and was reportedly costing BNSF $1 million per hour as rail traffic was halted in both directions through town, Turney said his evacuation order was a PLEASE SEE FIRE | 6
Main St. bricks to be smoothed House blaze takes life By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Alonzo were not at the meeting. “When you turn off Park Avenue onto Main Street, it is heaven for two The remaining brick portion of Main blocks,” Hereford Mayor Tom Simons Street will soon be no more afsaid. “Then, when you get to Sevter action taken Monday by the enth Street, it is hell again.” Hereford City Commission durThe project is an extension of ing its regular meeting. Main Street repaving that began However, the brick road will last year to improve road and not be removed or replaced – driving conditions on the detejust covered up. riorating brick surface that has Commissioners approved the been in place since 1926. acceptance of bids by city ofWhile the work will ease what ficials to repave Main Street is now a vehicle-shaking, kidneySIMONS from Fifth to Seventh streets rattling drive over an uneven in a unanimous vote of the and broken surface in many four members present. Commissioners Charlie Kerr, Joe Garza and Angie PLEASE SEE CITY | 3
of Hereford woman
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
A small house fire Saturday night in Hereford proved fatal when it claimed the life of a wellknown resident. According to Hereford Fire Marshall Dean Turney, firefighters were alerted to a fire at 132 Live Oak at approximately 8 p.m., Saturday. Reports show firefight-
ers had little trouble extinguishing the blaze, but did the find the lifeless body of 76-year-old Alva Lee Peeler in the house. “As far as fires go, it was a small fire,” Turney said. “It was very confined. It was not a major structure fire. “We contacted the state fire marshal to as-
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PLEASE SEE FATALITY | 2