UPDATE 10/14 at 1:38 P.M.:
The Bell County Sheriff's Office says it has opened a criminal investigation into the origins of the Hackberry Fire that started Monday afternoon near Salado, and the source of the fire has been identified.
After morning calculations on Tuesday, the property damage assessment has been reduced to 193 acres of grass, brush and fence. A total of 16 structures were threatened, but saved. No injuries were reported.
The sheriff's office is working with the Bell County District Attorney's Office and the Texas A&M Forestry Service. This is still an active investigation and further details will not be released.
The Texas A&M Forestry Service is still on scene Tuesday afternoon, and is being supported by the Salado Fire Department.
The sheriff's office asks that anyone who suffered a loss of property to call the Bell County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at (254) 933-5442 so you can be listed as a victim in the investigation.
UPDATE 10/13 at 9:20 P.M.
The fire is contained with a total of just over 250 acres of ranch land burned according to the Bell County Sheriff's Office.
Officials said no structures were involved and no injuries have been reported. Fire departments and the Texas Forestry Service are planning to remain on-scene throughout the night to prevent any potential issues.
The cause of the fire has not been "positively determined" at this time but officials are looking into the cause.
UPDATE 10/13 at 6:28 P.M.:
The Bell County Sheriff's Office says they received a 911 call just after 2 p.m., when a caller reported seeing smoke in the area of Hackberry Road and Gooseneck Road.
The BCSO says Salado Volunteer Fire Department got on scene and saw a large fire and activated the East Side Strike Crew, which calls in reinforcements from every fire crew on the east side of the county, including paid and volunteer departments.
"Very quickly, the wind has been a struggle and so the fire was still remaining large so they activated what is called the West Side Strike Group, which then activated all the west side assets so Fort Hood, Killeen, all the fire departments are here," Corey Powell, public information officer for the BCSO, said.
The Texas A&M Forest Service was also called in to help, bringing firefighters, heavy bulldozers and air tankers to help protect the homes in the surrounding area.
Crews from Travis County, Williamson County, and Jarrell have also been called in to assist.
The Bell County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to avoid the area to let fire crew fight and contain the fire.
ORIGINAL 5 P.M.:
The Bell County Sheriff's Office tells 25 News that crews are responding to a fire that's burned over 200 acres near Salado in Bell County.
The BCSO says all fire departments in the county are responding.
Hear from the Bell County Sheriff's Office:
Bell County is currently under a burn ban, which was set to expire Tuesday night.
25 News has a crew on scene. This is a developing story and will update you on air and online as we learn more information.
