The Texas Panhandle is being ravaged by a series of massive wildfires that have forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Dry conditions and high winds have fueled the rapid spread of the flames across the region.
The largest of the fires, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, has scorched over 300,000 acres since it started on Monday afternoon. The blaze remains completely uncontained as it tears through Hemphill and Roberts counties.
Evacuations Ordered as Wildfire Threatens Towns
The city of Canadian, located about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo, has been directly impacted by the encroaching Smokehouse Creek Fire. Residents were advised to shelter in place on Tuesday as evacuation routes became unsafe due to the spreading flames.
Approximately 50 people took refuge at a local church in Canadian. The county judge said numerous homes on the edge of the city limits have already been destroyed.
“Homes have burned in almost every direction,” said Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson. She added that firefighting resources are extremely limited as crews battle blazes across the Panhandle.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of Hutchinson County as well, including the city of Fritch. The county emergency management coordinator described the situation as a “disaster” on Tuesday night.
In addition to homes and businesses burning, infrastructure damage has knocked out power and water service to thousands of people in Hutchinson County.
Multiple Wildfires Merge Into Fast-Moving “Mega Fire”
At least five major wildfires are now active in the Texas Panhandle, burning over 370,000 acres combined as of Wednesday morning. The strong winds caused several of the blazes to merge into one gigantic “mega fire.
The three largest fires are the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County, and the Grape Vine Creek Fire in Gray County. There are also two smaller fires called the 687 Reamer Fire and the Magenta Fire.
The flames have jumped over into Oklahoma as well, prompting urgent evacuations on the other side of the state border. Conditions continue to be extremely dry, with humidity levels in the single digits.
Air Quality Plummets as Smoke Drifts Into Cities
While the smaller frontier towns are taking the brunt of the direct fire damage, metropolitan areas are also being affected. Smoke from the burning countryside is drifting into cities like Amarillo.
The air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels as thick smoke settles over the city. The Amarillo branch of the National Weather Service described the conditions as “poor” and advised residents to limit their time outdoors.
With the wildfires advancing closer to the outskirts of Amarillo, a local state of disaster was declared for the city as well as Potter and Randall Counties. A mandatory evacuation order was temporarily issued for a neighborhood north of the city limits.
Texas A&M Forest Service Calls In Backup Resources
Fire authorities have been working around the clock trying to contain the wall of flames. But the Texas A&M Forest Service says resources are stretched thin across the region.
Additional firefighters and equipment are being called in from other parts of the state to assist. The agency has deployed two full disaster recovery task forces to Hutchinson County.
Aerial firefighting units have also been requested from the state government to augment the fire suppression efforts on the ground. Aircraft will be instrumental in dousing the flames in the largely rural areas.
Ranches Sustain Heavy Losses in the Firestorm
The raging wildfires have dealt a devastating blow to many of the cattle ranches and farms that dot the rural Texas Panhandle landscape. Entire herds of livestock have perished in the flames.
At the Turkey Track Ranch near Stinnett, workers scrambled to cut fences in order to move the panicked cattle away from the swiftly advancing fire. The ranch said an unknown number of cows were lost.
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the impact on ranching and farming operations has been severe. He pledged that the state will support the agricultural community through the lengthy rebuilding process.
Officials emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant as the uncontrolled wildfires show no signs of slowing down. Residents should have evacuation bags ready and monitor alerts closely for any orders to leave. With hot dry conditions set to persist, the Texas Panhandle wildfires could continue to grow in size and ferocity.
