Wildfire burns many homes around lake in Texas amid high heat

A wildfire has burned several homes and prompted calls for voluntary evacuations around a lake in north Texas amid sweltering temperatures and dry conditions

The fire at Possum Kingdom Lake about 95 miles (153 kilometers) west of Dallas began on 18th July afternoon

The fire has burned about 500 acres (202 hectares) and was 10% contained on late 18th July 

No injuries have been reported and the cause is under investigation.

Forest Service spokesperson Adam Turner told reporters at the scene that drought conditions in the region have left the area ripe for fire

At least 8 homes have been evacuated.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag fire warning for the area for 19th July in addition to an excessive heat warning with high temperatures near 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius)

“We are experiencing dry fuels to a level that we haven’t seen in the past ten years,” Turner said

 “Any spark that lands in tall grass or even lands in some short grass right now is liable to spark.”

Wildfires and intense heat in Texas and some other parts of the United States come as unusually hot, dry weather has gripped large swaths of Europe since last week