A large wildfire at Sam Houston National Forest north of the Houston area sparked evacuations and school closures as fire crews worked to contain the 2000-acre blaze. Officials warned dry and warm weather conditions would make containing and extinguishing the fire more difficult.

Firefighters and emergency management crews were working Wednesday to contain and extinguish a wildfire in San Jacinto County that prompted dozens

Prescribed burns are regularly conducted by fire specialists in Texas forests in an effort to clear ground-level foliage and maintain healthy landscapes. The burns are a cost-effective way to reduce fuel loading in the event of a large-scale wildfire.