BEAUMONT — Beaumont Fire Rescue has deployed members of its Wildland Firefighting team to the Bastrop area to assist the Texas Forest Service on the Wildland fires in that area, according to a press release from Beaumont Fire and rescue.

Three firefighters left Wednesday with the Wildland fire truck to be part of a strike team. They may be deployed for a period of 10 to 14 days before being released.

At least nine homes have been destroyed by the central Texas wildfire that has grown to more than three square miles.

The fire has prompted the evacuations of several neighborhoods and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department closed Buescher State Park on Wednesday due to the fire, according to the Associated Press.