The deadly Texas fires have burned more than 1 million acres. Ranches were burned, highways were closed, and thousands were evacuated.
Massive wildfires have engulfed parts of the Texas Panhandle this week amid gusty winds and unseasonably warm weather.
By Thursday, the fire was only 15% contained.
Fire crossing Hwy 83 again 7 miles south of Canada. #txwx pic.twitter.com/4bvzaXe4Fd
— Chad Casey (@WxFanaticCC) February 27, 2024
At least two women died in the fires, the AP reported.
Bird’s-eye view of the damage caused by the Smokehouse Creek fire:
I’m flying to Amarillo, Texas to cover the Smokehouse Creek fire. You can see the burn scars where it was too hot for the snow to stick to the ground.
The fire is now the largest in Texas history, with a staggering 1,075,000 acres burned.
Real-time reports on @KPRC2. pic.twitter.com/wAJmSaetUs
— Gage Goulding – KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) February 29, 2024
CNN reported:
The catastrophic wildfires that have ravaged the Texas Panhandle have killed at least two people and threaten to destroy more homes, livestock and livelihoods as the largest inferno in the state’s history swallows more land by the minute.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has now burned more than 1 million acres in Texas alone, making it the largest fire ever recorded in the state. The fire also charred more than 31,500 acres in Oklahoma as of Thursday evening, the state Forest Service said.
Overall, the fire is among the largest in the Lower 48 since reliable record-keeping began in the 1980s.
The inferno is one of three fires burning in the Texas Panhandle – with no end in sight. Despite light precipitation in the area Thursday, dry air and ferocious winds are expected to return Friday and into the weekend, possibly fanning the flames.
Gov. Greg Abbott (right) said he has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional emergency response resources as Texas responds to wildfires impacting the Panhandle.
I directed @TDEM to deploy additional emergency response resources as Texas responds to wildfires impacting the Panhandle.
We have also increased the preparedness level of the State Emergency Operations Center.
Texas stands ready to provide all available resources to protect Texans. pic.twitter.com/0YOfUXLKda
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 28, 2024