In response to the escalating Texas Wildfires, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties. The fires, which have been raging since Monday, are being fueled by hot, dry conditions, with very dry grass and maximum wind gusts of 65 mph.
Governor Greg Abbott stated, “I issued a disaster declaration today to ensure critical fire response resources are swiftly deployed to areas in the Texas Panhandle being impacted by devastating wildfires.”
The most significant of these fires is the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County, northeast of Amarillo. By Tuesday evening, this fire had grown to an alarming 250,000 acres and was still 0% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire conditions in Hutchinson County were described as “critical” by the National Weather Service.
A tweet from Sierra Lindsey highlighted the severity of the situation: “SMOKEHOUSE CREEK FIRE: over 250k acres of land have burned today in the out-of-control wildfire in Texas. Parts of Hemphill County have been evacuated, including the town of Canadian. The tall dry grass and high winds have fueled rapid fire growth.”
SMOKEHOUSE CREEK FIRE: over 250k acres of land have burned today in the out of control wildfire in Texas. Parts of Hemphill County have been evacuated, including the town of Canadian. The tall dry grass and high winds have fueled rapid fire growth. #txwx @SevereStudios pic.twitter.com/iyIfHih92F
— Sierra Lindsey (@Sierra_Lindsey3) February 28, 2024
As the situation escalated, Larry, an X (formerly Twitter) user, provided a real-time update: “🔥BREAKING: Emergency sirens are blaring as people are being evacuated urgently from the Texas panhandle and surrounding areas. Multiple departments are currently battling four significant wildfires, which are proving to be difficult to contain due to 65 mph winds. The fire is spreading rapidly, creating massive flames and thick smoke that can be seen for miles. All roads are blocked, and police and emergency officials are urging everyone to leave immediately due to the dangerous situation.”
🔥BREAKING: Emergency sirens are blaring as people are being evacuated urgently from the Texas panhandle and surrounding areas.
Multiple departments are currently battling four significant wildfires, which are proving to be difficult to contain due to 65 mph winds.
The fire… pic.twitter.com/yWZpaZtjJb
— 🇺🇸 Larry 🇺🇸 (@LarryDJonesJr) February 27, 2024
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the community of Scotts Acres in Stinnett, a city of around 1,600 people that is the seat of Hutchinson County. Gas to the city had been shut off on Tuesday but was later turned back on. Social media footage from the Stinnett area showed cattle being released to escape the fires near the Turkey Track Ranch, east of Stinnett.
Katlyn Butler, a local resident, shared her experience: “We’ve been on fire for 24 hours. Our ranch is on its own as all fire departments had to move into town to save communities.”
Meanwhile, the city of Pampa, home to about 16,000 people, suggested a voluntary evacuation on Tuesday as firefighters battled a fire north of the city. However, this was later lifted, and firefighting efforts were continuing, according to Pampa’s government.
Schools in Canada, to the east, were canceled for Wednesday. Lynn Pulliam, the superintendent of the Canadian Independent School District, expressed his concern for the community: “I hope everyone is safe.”
By Tuesday evening, “red flag” warnings, indicating an increased risk of wildfires, covered northwestern and northern Texas, most of Oklahoma, and southwestern Missouri, according to the weather service. High wind warnings were also issued across northwestern Texas.
In addition to the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the Grape Vine Creek Fire, also in the Texas Panhandle, was around 30,000 acres with 20% containment, and the Juliet Pass Fire was a little more than 2,900 acres and 90% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
As Texas battles these wildfires, the state’s residents and authorities are hoping for a swift end to this disaster. The situation is a stark reminder of the destructive power of wildfires and the importance of preparedness and swift action in the face of such threats. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.