Residents in Meridian, TX were under a mandatory evacuation order Tuesday as the Hydra Fire grew to 1,000 acres in Bosque County. The order began in south-west Meridian, then expanded to the entire city as the fire spread.
Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire was 10% contained. Officials said it was 2 miles south of Meridian, which sits around 70 miles south-west of Fort Worth, and lay south of County Road 1035 and west of Highway 6.
Meridian High School shelter
Residents of Meridian were told to shelter at Meridian High School. The Bosque County Sheriff's Office said pets were welcome there, while livestock could be taken to the Clifton Fair Grounds. The Clifton Volunteer Fire Department said its Baptist church and civic center were open to Meridian residents who were evacuating.
About 1,400 people live in Meridian, so the order covered most of the city at once. The spread from south-west Meridian to the full city changed the response from a limited evacuation zone to one that reached every neighborhood under the order.
Bosque County fire line
The Hydra Fire was identified as an active grass fire in Bosque County. The fire's location south of Meridian placed the city directly in its path, which is why the evacuation moved beyond the initial south-west area.
The immediate concern now is how long the order will remain in place as crews work on a fire that is still mostly uncontained. Residents moving out should use the designated shelter options for people, pets and livestock rather than try to return before the evacuation order changes.
