Texas Wildfires Claim Two Lives

The biggest wildfire in the history of Texas has ravaged over 1.1 million acres in the past week, fueled by dry winds and soaring temperatures. The destructive blaze, known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire, has claimed the lives of at least two individuals and destroyed hundreds of homes in the Texas Panhandle.

Multiple wildfires ignited on February 26 in the Texas Panhandle continue to rage on, as reported by the Texas A&M Forest Service. Despite an anticipated cold front moving through the rural Panhandle on Monday, the National Weather Service in Amarillo has warned of critical fire weather conditions persisting, with temperatures expected to peak in the 70s to low 80s in the evening in some regions.

With winds from the southwest reaching gusts of up to 50 mph, humidity levels dropping below 15%, and extremely dry grass levels, the weather service has issued warnings. Residents are advised to refrain from activities that could trigger fires, especially considering the 65 counties currently under burn bans according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has already scorched more than 1,078,000 acres, establishing itself as the largest wildfire ever recorded in Texas. It is one of five wildfires burning in the Texas Panhandle and spreading into Oklahoma.

As of Sunday morning, the wildfire, now five times the size of New York City and surpassing the entire state of Rhode Island in size, remains only 15% contained. Weather conditions on Saturday caused increased fire activity on the Smokehouse, Windy Deuce, and Grapevine Creek fires, as mentioned by Blue Team Operations Section Chief Mike Brod in a video update on Facebook.

“A RED FLAG warning has been issued and will last through midnight Sunday,” stated the Texas A&M Forest Service in a later update on Sunday. “Any moisture received three days ago is completely gone. Overnight humidity recovery was poor… Grass fuels are (2%) drier than a day ago and will be very receptive to any heat sources.”

Texas wildfires map:Stay updated on the latest locations of the blazes as dry weather and wind pose threats.

Investigation into the Cause of the Inferno

A filing with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission on February 28 revealed that investigators from various insurance companies had alerted Xcel Energy, a utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, regarding a possible cause of the fire. The downed utility poles of Xcel Energy may have initiated the blaze, prompting investigators to request the preservation of the fallen SPS utility pole situated near the fire’s potential area of origin.

During a visit to the Texas Panhandle on Friday, Governor Greg Abbott highlighted that the cause of the fire is under investigation, with ongoing assessments by the Texas Department of Emergency Management to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Early assessments suggest that between 400 and 500 structures have been consumed by the flames, although investigators are still determining the exact toll. Governor Abbott described the devastation as complete, leaving nothing but ashes on the ground for those affected by the disaster.

Identification of Fire Victims

Two women have been confirmed as casualties of the wildfires this week. However, due to the extensive reach of the flames, authorities have not yet conducted a thorough search for victims.

Numerous firefighters have sustained injuries, with three treated for burns and subsequently discharged from hospitals, according to W. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

In Oklahoma, two firefighters were injured while battling the fires, one suffering a heat-related injury and the other involved in a collision between the brush pumper he was in and a tanker truck en route to respond to a fire near Gage. Both firefighters are expected to recover.

Thousands of Cattle Perish in the Fires

Apart from causing structural damage and widespread destruction, the fires have resulted in the deaths of thousands of cattle, as confirmed by officials this week.

“Over 85% of the state’s cattle population is located on ranches in the panhandle,” stated Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “There are millions of cattle out there, with some towns comprising more cattle than people. The losses could be catastrophic for those counties.”

Ranchers have been combing through the burned areas to locate and dispose of cattle corpses, with severely injured or burned animals slated for euthanasia. While some ranches may face severe impacts, the effect on consumer beef prices is anticipated to be minimal.

“These cows you see dead are worth between £2,500 and £3,000 each,” disclosed X-Cross-X Ranch operator Chance Bowers to The Associated Press. “Financially, it’s a massive, massive burden on us.”

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Brandi D. Addison, Amarillo Globe-News; The Associated Press