DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Texas Panhandle wildfires have burned nearly 1.3 million acres in a week – and it's not over yet

The Texas Panhandle wildfires killed at least two people and burned nearly 1.3 million acres in their first week — and the situation isn't over.

There are five active wildfires across the region, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The largest of those is the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County, which alone has burned nearly 1.1 million acres and is the largest wildfire ever recorded in the state. That fire was just 15% contained as of Sunday afternoon.

The other fires include Gray County's Grape Vine Creek Fire, which has burned nearly 35,000 acres and is 60% contained, Moore County's Windy Deuce Fire, which has burned 144,206 acres and is at 55% containment, and Oldham County's Magenta Fire, which burned nearly 3,300 acres and is 85% contained. Hutchinson County is also facing the new Roughneck Fire, which has reached an estimated 300 acres and is 25% contained.

Weather conditions across the state have made battling the blazes difficult. For days, the area has seen favorable fire weather – warmer temperatures, dry air and strong winds – but the National Weather Service said Monday morning a cold front is set to pass through, bringing cooler temperatures that will help minimize wildfire impact.

"Even though there is no precipitation in the forecast, winds and relative humidity values will thankfully not hit any fire weather thresholds early this week," the Amarillo station said. "... Weak winds at the surface and a lot are looking likely for Tuesday so fire weather should not be a concern. Along with the weak winds, temperatures will also be cooler in the mid 50s to mid 60s area wide."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday the fires have left exceptional damage, saying much of the affected areas are "completely gone" with "nothing left but ashes on the ground."

Early assessments show that up to 500 structures have been destroyed as of Friday afternoon, he said, adding that they will not know the true extent until later.

"We have people who don't have a home, don't have a place to go to. ... And we as Texans need to collaborate together, to work not just on the restoration process, but that restoration process takes a while," he said. "We need to work on the process of finding immediate and temporary housing for these individual people."
Texas's Largest Fire Keeps Burning And Only Partially Under Control
A destroyed ranch home following the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Miami, Texas, on Sunday, March 3, 2024. Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Farmers and ranchers have also suffered major losses. Officials said the fires have left "dead animals everywhere," with estimates that thousands of cattle – a vital industry in the region – will have died by the end of the disaster. Many in the agricultural community have rushed to help, offering land and free medication and labor to try and save animals.

"We're picking up deads today," Chance Bowers, one ranch operator, told the Associated Press last week as he revealed the more than a thousand cattle on the land. "... This pasture we're standing in, there as 93 cows in it and there is six left."

By the time they finish looking at the damage, Bowers said he expects they will have lost about 200 to 250 cows, right in the middle of calving season.

"I've spent the last 15 years building this cow herd up," he said. "And you can lose it overnight."

Abbott said he is going to request a federal disaster declaration to help in the recovery. A day before Abbott's update, President Biden said he has directed his team to "do everything possible to help protect the people and the communities threatened by these fires." More than 100 federal firefighters were headed to the state, he said, as well as "dozens of additional fire engines, air tankers, small planes, helicopters to help fight the flames."

He also linked the fires to climate change, saying his administration will keep working to "help folks rebuild themselves in the wake of these disasters."

The conditions that are favorable to fire weather are only expected to become more intense as the world continues to burn fossil fuels, a process that releases gases into the atmosphere that work to trap heat from the sun, warming the planet. Researchers have already found that Texas' fire season has already grown by two months, and the season is only expected to undergo "lengthening and intensifying" as temperatures rise and extreme weather conditions such as drought and strong winds worsen.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-...NLlhQfVhkXwlrzVVQGVQU7Ex6f6nTJdGbOkcda-w

An update from this morning....

Texas wildfire update: Map shows ongoing devastation as blazes engulf over a million acres

The Texas wildfires continue to sweep across the state's panhandle and have now burned over a million acres.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire, now the largest in the state's history, was last reported to be burning across 1,076,638 acres, according to Texas A&M Forest Service's post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Although it shrunk from its initial size, the fire is still only 15% contained.

The agency states that the fire's acreage will continue to change as mapping becomes more accurate. "Firefighters continue suppression actions on the fire," states the post.

The warm, dry weather in the area has proved to be an obstacle as firefighters battle the blazes. But conditions are expected to improve today as a cold front is expected to move across the state's rural Panhandle early Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Where are the Texas wildfires?

According to the latest data provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service, there are six active fires in the state:

Smokehouse Creek — Hutchinson County, 1,076,638 acres, 15% contained
Windy Deuce — Moore County, 144,206 acres, 55% contained
Grape Vine Creek — Gray County, 34,882 acres, 60% contained
Magenta — Oldham County, 3,297 acres, 85% contained
687 Reamer — Hutchinson County, 2,000 acres, 10% contained
Roughneck — Hutchinson County, 300 acres, 25% contained

Burn bans issued in Texas

There are 65 counties in the state, mainly in its panhandle and western border, that are under burn bans due to the wildfires and drought conditions.

In a post on X, FEMA warned that wildfire danger is high not only in Texas but also Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana.

The agency is asking people to check local burn bans and reg flag warnings in their area.

Texas wildfires have caused 2 deaths

So far, two deaths have been confirmed from the fire.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Chris Ray, Cindy Owen, who was driving in Hemphill County when she encountered the fire or smoke from it on Tuesday afternoon. She got out of her truck, and the flames overtook her.

Joyce Blankenship, 83, was identified by family members. According to her grandson, Lee Quesada, deputies told his uncle that the former substitute teacher's remains were found Wednesday in her home, which was burned.

In addition to human lives lost, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller predicts there could be around 10,000 cattle deaths due to the fire. But, this number is not confirmed.

Texas governor, Greg Abbott, said on Friday that he believes wildfires destroyed around 500 structures, reports NPR.

“The countless Texans who have been impacted by these devastating wildfires are going through challenges that require our ongoing support and assistance as we work together to help the entire Panhandle region rebuild and return to normalcy," said Abbott in a statement.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-map-2024/72837137007/

At least they are beginning to get some of these fires contained. Hopefully that trend will continue.