New Fires Flare in Texas; Charges Filed in Okla.

Six new wildfires flared up in Texas on Jan. 5 and fire fighting crews were battling about two dozen smaller fires in Oklahoma, the Dallas Morning News reported.

In Texas, houses and other structures were threatened by flames in Hunt, Parker and Bexar counties; two smaller fires in Clay and Hale counties were reported and a 250-acre fire in Bell County had reportedly been controlled by Thursday night.

An Oklahoma County man burning trash was charged with violating the burn ban and starting a fire that burned several acres; he faces a $500 fine and up to one year in jail if convicted.

In addition, 18-year-old Justin Wilkerson faces arson charges in Anadarko in western Oklahoma. According to the Dallas Morning News, Wilkerson, the son of a former fire official, is accused of starting four small fires, one of which damaged a vacant house.