The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Robert Lee

Wildfires fueled by strong winds and warm temperatures charred about 286 square miles in central and west Texas on Monday, forcing the evacuation of this community of 1,500 people.

About 100 to 150 residents of the small town were settling in at the gymnasium of the Bronte School District, where cots were being set up for the evacuees.

"They basically came with just themselves and their children," Superintendent Alan Richey said. Some brought their pets. A fire that had burned about six square miles in Coke County caused the evacuation of Robert Lee, said Anne Jeffery, an information officer for Texas Forest Service. Robert Lee is about 65 miles southwest of Abilene. Several other fires burning across the state, including one that had burned about 47 square miles in Sterling County, Jeffrey said. Some homes were evacuated near the towns of Cottonwood and Mason, Jeffrey said. Earlier in the day, about 200 homes were evacuated in Odessa due to a wildfire. Those residents were allowed back home by early evening, said Andrea Goodson, a spokeswoman for the city of Odessa. The fire, which moved south of the community, has around seven square miles, she said.