The Port Aransas ferry service has begun operating again, after shutting down about 2:30 p.m. today, Sunday, Aug. 7, due to a grass fire on Harbor Island.

As of 3:15 p.m., the service was accepting vehicles coming from Harbor Island and was moving limited numbers of vehicles coming from Mustang Island, according to a ferry system spokesman.

Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs said the fire was burning near where the Port Aransas and Aransas Pass city limits abut, in the same area where a grass fire burned several days ago.

Burroughs said firefighters asked that the ferry service stop or limit traffic for safety reasons.  Heavy smoke and fire trucks on the road would be a hazard for motorists, the chief said.

The Port Aransas Volunteer Fire Department and Aransas Pass Fire Department were fighting the blaze, Burroughs said.

Burroughs said he knew of no injuries or major damage.

PAVFD Chief Dwight Kirkpatrick couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.