UPDATE 3-30 (10:25 p.m.):
Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid has ordered a volunteer evacuation for the west sides of Ricardo and Riviera until further notice. If you are in need of immediate shelter, you can contact the sheriff's department or Human Resources Director David Garcia at 361-228-1892.
UPDATE 3-30 (9:45 p.m.):
The Kingsville Police Department says the fire now extends approximately 25 miles from State Highway 141 to about a mile away from State Highway 285.
Crews have requested the closure of Highway 285 between Falfurrias and Riviera.
You are asked to avoid the area, but emergency crews say no residential homes outside of King Ranch property are in jeopardy at this point.
UPDATE 3-30 (8:45 p.m.):
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, voluntary evacuations are in place for a fire on the King Ranch near Kingsville. The fire has burned 3,500 acres so far and it is 10% contained. Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid said they have air surveillance keeping them informed to make sure the fire does not get close to the homes. So far, firefighters have been able to protect structures nearby.
Firefighters will be fighting the fire throughout the evening. They are urging residents nearby to have a plan in place in case they are told to evacuate.
ORIGINAL:
Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid confirmed to KRIS 6 News that multiple emergency crews are currently fighting a fire on the King Ranch west of Kingsville.
Madrid said the fire originated along U.S. Hwy 281 and Hwy 141. The winds shifted, he said, and now the fire is on the King Ranch and approaching FM 772.
"Crews are trying to put the fire out before it spreads to homes or properties," Madrid said.
According to a Facebook post from the City of Kingsville, Kleberg County, Premont, Alice, Ben Bolt an Kingsville Crews are on scene.
Officials are asking those who are traveling to avoid the area "if at all possible."
Kleberg County Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick is working to notify any residents who may impacted by the fire, according to the post.
At the moment, officials said they do not know what caused the fire.
The National Weather Service Corpus Christi released an image of a smoke plume forming on its twitter page. That can be seen below:
A wildfire in west Kleberg County is producing a large smoke plume on an otherwise clear, dry, and windy day. He's our view from the office. #fireweather #txwx #stxwx pic.twitter.com/yHMM1KrItW
— NWS Corpus Christi (@NWSCorpus) March 30, 2022
This is a developing story. Stay with KRIS 6 News for more information as it becomes available.
