Wildfire burning out of control in Texas

DALLAS, Aug. 31  The Texas Forest Service said containment is at or near zero for a wildfire burning out of control about 50 miles west of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.Spokesman John Nichols of the Forest Service told the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram the fast-burning grass fire destroyed 25 homes and threatened 125 more Tuesday.

By late Tuesday the wildfire had burned about 7,500 acres in Palo Pinto County, Nichols said."I don't think I have seen it this bad anywhere," Nichols said but no major injuries were reported.The fire began earlier Tuesday, apparently sparked by severe drought conditions, WFAA-TV, Dallas, reported.

Two groups of elementary school students were evacuated from Camp Grady Spruce at Possum Kingdom Lake but a spokesperson said the children were never in danger because the wind wasn't blowing in their direction.

Boats were used to ferry evacuees across the lake.Texas is currently battling its worst fire season in state history, CNN reported.A record 3.5 million acres have burned since the start of the season. Hot and dry weather, coupled with a lack of rain, have made conditions ripe for rapid fire growth.