UPDATE: Orchard owner Kent Livesay says it appears the peach crop escaped any serious damage from the overnight cold.
A helicopter makes lazy circles over the Livesay Orchard at Porter. It is an attempt to force warm air aloft down into the orchard. Owner Kent Livesay says it is an effort to save his peach crop from a late freeze. The temperature dropped to a critical level at the orchard just before 7 a.m.
The trees are in full bloom. Temps down to 28-degrees would cause some minor damage. However, he says several hours at 25-degrees would devastate the crop.
In addition to the helicopter, the orchard is using gas powered fans to move the air. The fans and helicopter started working about 3 a.m.