A fast-moving wildfire raging across the Texas Panhandle on Wednesday became the second-largest wildfire in the state’s history, forcing evacuations and causing power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the growing blaze. did.
The blaze is part of a series of blazes that have gotten out of control and threatened local towns, prompting local authorities to close roads overnight and urge residents to leave their homes. The Texas A&M Forest Service said the largest fire had grown to nearly 800 square miles, spread into parts of neighboring Oklahoma, and remained completely out of control as night fell.
Officials have not said what caused the fire, but strong winds, dry grass, and extreme temperatures fueled the blaze. Near Borger, a community of about 13,000 people, emergency officials at one point Tuesday night answered questions from frightened residents during a Facebook live stream and told them to prepare if they hadn’t already left. I was instructed to do so.
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These numbers reflect the severe weather that has hit much of the United States this week.
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“It was like a ring of fire around Borger. There was no escape… all four major roads were closed,” said Adrianna Hill, who lives in her home about a mile from the fire. 28 years old) said. She said the north wind fanning the fire in the opposite direction “saved our lives.”
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties. A major facility for dismantling America’s nuclear weapons was shut down Tuesday night due to a fire, but it said it was back open for business Wednesday.
The fires ravaged the sparsely populated county on a vast plateau dotted with ranches and oil rigs. The main fire, known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire, has grown to more than half the size of Rhode Island. It’s five times bigger than it was on Monday when it started.
The weather forecast gave firefighters hope. Thursday was expected to be cooler, with less wind and a chance of rain. But for now, the situation is dire in some areas.
In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. A rapidly growing wildfire in Texas doubled in size Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for at least a decade. A small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. A rapidly growing wildfire in Texas doubled in size Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for at least a decade. A small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)
As evacuation orders were strengthened Tuesday, county and city officials urged residents to activate their cell phone emergency alert services and prepare to evacuate immediately.
Unknown number of houses and other structures