Firefighting personnel from the Houston Rural, Raymondville and Licking fire departments responded to a grass fire that grew into a large wildfire Tuesday afternoon next to U.S. 63 north of Houston.
The blaze scorched a significant amount of territory on the west side of the highway, as wind blowing from the south caused the flames to move quickly through wooded sections of the area.
At one point, the fire threatened the Hidden Treasures Antiques and Collectibles store, but firefighters stopped the advancing flames only a matter of feet from the south side of the building.
Missouri State Highway Patrol officers directed traffic as passers-by slowed down due to the volume of visible smoke and flame.
Firemen responded to Westwood Drive on Christmas Day to a fire on the Boulder McKinney property.