BELL COUNTY (April 1, 2009)--Firefighters were getting the upper hand Wednesday evening on one wind-whipped grassfire along Interstate 35, but other fires were still burning.

The rapidly spreading fire east of Interstate 35 at the Berger Road exit between Troy and Temple broke out around 3:45 a.m.

Mildred Carnes saw the flames and called 911.

She said before the first fire trucks arrived, the flames were spreading quickly.

Units from Troy were the first on the scene.

Temple firefighters joined the effort, and a short time later help was requested from both the East and West Side Strike Forces.

Fort Hood crews, meanwhile, were battling a large fire in the Owl Creek area of the post and another fire was reported in the Belton area.

Earlier Wednesday, a fire just east of Belton scorched about 10 acres.

A wind advisory was in effect Wednesday for the region and the gusty winds hampered efforts to control the fires.

Officials say the wildfire danger though Saturday is critically high west of Interstate 35, where there is a potential of extreme wildfires that could be difficult to contain.

“Fire behavior in dead short grass fuels will be very active with rates of spread ranging from 2-3 miles per hour and flame lengths from 9-13 feet are possible,” a statement released Wednesday said.