A large wildfire, fanned by cold front winds of more than 40 mph, affected southeast Callahan and northwest Brown County on Highway 279 Friday night into the early morning hours of Saturday. According to Lake Brownwood Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, the fire was about halfway between Cross Cut and Cross Plains. It spread across the county line and County Road 415. It moved south toward FM 2940. Deputies notified all residents in the area. Numerous Brown County Fire Departments received mutual aid from fire departments in neighboring counties to help bring the wildfire mostly under control during the overnight.  According to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Information Team early Saturday morning, the Forest Service is responding to a request for assistance in what they are calling the Mariah Ridge Fire.  The Forest Service reports the fire is an estimated 250 acres.  Fire units also put out another small grass fire near the Rocky Creek Baptist Church on Highway 279 just northwest of Brownwood in the early morning hours.  The cause of the fire has not been released.

THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS!