Pauline Road Wildfire 45% Contained as Investigation into Controlled Burn Continues

Firefighters work to fully extinguish the 2,000-acre blaze in Houston National Forest while authorities examine potential criminal liability linked to a controlled burn.

• The Pauline Road wildfire, which began on March 19, has burned over 2,000 acres, destroyed one home, and forced the evacuation of more than 900 homes.
• Fire containment reached 45% as of Friday morning, with no fire activity observed outside containment lines overnight.
• The wildfire was caused by a controlled burn conducted on a nearby property owned by Woodlands San Jacinto Ranch LLC, which had submitted the required burn plan and documentation.
• Weather conditions during the controlled burn included wind gusts slightly exceeding the recommended threshold of 20 mph, which may have contributed to the fire's spread.
• Authorities, including the Texas A&M Forestry Service, are investigating the controlled burn, with potential criminal charges under consideration.

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