Fire destroyed two storage barns and scorched neighboring pastures

Multiple fire departments were busy dealing with a wildfire in the Buckhorn Community about 4 miles southeast of Newton on Tuesday afternoon. The blaze destroyed two storage barns and scorched neighboring pasture land. Captain Melanie Smith of the Newton Fire Department says it was caused by a person who had two burn piles going despite the burn ban. Firefighters from Newton, Burkeville, Trout Creek, Bon Wier, Kirbyville, Roganville, and East End responded shortly before 2:00 to the Walter W. McDonald residence at 794 County Road 4025. While firefighters worked to douse the flames near the house, two crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service deployed bulldozers and went to work on the pasture fires. Newton County deputies were on scene, but Sheriff Robert Burby said that no citation was issued. Burby explained that typically a citation is not issued on a first offense, unless it's an egregious violation. Burn bans have been in place across the region for several weeks.