FIREWORKS FIRE

FIREWORKS FIRE Friday night , July 1, shortly before 10 p.m. at White River Lake, spectators lining the lakefront for the annual fireworks display witnessed an unexpected flare when a firework that didn’t go out and it caught the underbrush on fire, according to water district manager Shane Jones. The Fourth of July display, which is regularly arranged by White River Marina owner A.O. Smith and set off on an island in the middle of the lake, was scheduled to take place around 9:40 p.m.; one witness to the blaze said the show was about 10 minutes in when the accident occurred. Although Jones and police chief Anthony McAdoo sent boats back for the fire department, no injuries occurred and there was no property damage except to an area of brush about 30 yards long x 20 yards wide. Six to eight volunteer firemen from Crosbyton responded, said Jones, after Smith and one resident went to pick up additional firemen. “We let it burn out; it was on the middle of the island,” said Jones. “We were out there and all were safe.” | BARBIE NORMAN PHOTO