Multiple wildfires scorching the Texas Panhandle have merged to create “the largest and most destructive” blaze in state history.
Texas Panhandle wildfires merge, become largest in state history at over 1 million acres
The previous largest, the East Amarillo Complex fire, burned about 907,000 acres in March 2006.
FRITCH — Wildfires scorching the Texas Panhandle had merged Thursday, killing at least two people and creating “the largest and most destructive” blaze in state history at more than 1 million acres burned.
Slush from a mix of flurries and sleet began melting Thursday afternoon as the sun broke through the clouds, and a burning smell lingered in the air despite the weather preventing plumes of smoke from growing as large and as visible as in days prior.
Still, the Texas A&M Forest Service said the largest of the fires, the Smokehouse Creek fire in Hutchinson County, had reached an estimated 1,075,000 acres and was 3% contained Thursday. The 687 Reamer fire, which stood at roughly 2,000 acres, burned into the Smokehouse Creek fire.
The fire, which sparked Monday, exceeded the previous record for the state’s largest wildfire. Scraps of metal and stone were all that was left in some neighborhoods that reopened after the Smokehouse Creek’s flames rolled onward. Charred vehicles sat next to the foundations of former homes.
During a planned visit Thursday to Brownsville, President Joe Biden thanked first responders fighting the wildfires and said hundreds of federal personnel have been deployed with more resources on the way.
“When disasters strike, there is no red state or blue state where I come from,” Biden said. “Just communities and families looking for help, so we’re standing with everyone affected by these wildfires. We’re going to help the community respond and recover.”
Two deaths have been confirmed, but authorities have yet to conduct a thorough search for victims or tally the numerous homes and other structures damaged or destroyed. Joyce Blankenship, 83, was killed in Stinnett. Her grandson, Lee Quesada, said deputies told the family Wednesday they had found Blankenship’s remains in her burned home. A second woman, Cindy Owen, died of injuries suffered in a fire near Pampa, her family said on a GoFundMe page.
Texas Panhandle wildfire becomes largest in state history
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Officials were working at least three other active wildfires, including the Windy Deuce fire in Moore County, which was an estimated 142,000 acres and 50% contained, according to the forest service. The Grape Vine Creek fire in Gray County was 30,000 acres and 60% contained, and the Magenta fire in Oldham County was 2,500 acres and 65% contained.
Thursday’s forecast of snow, rain and temperatures in the 40s offered a brief chance for crews to make progress.
“We’re trying to take advantage of the weather we have now,” forest service spokesman Juan Rodriguez told The Dallas Morning News.
Wednesday, he said, was a “good, calm” day and combined with Thursday’s wintry precipitation has been beneficial by spreading moisture to areas that need it most.
“It really diminishes and decreases the fire activity that we see,” he said. ”We’re not seeing very active fire activity such as smoke plumes building up or a lot of extreme, large flame lengths, or running fire.”
Rodriguez said the high winds, higher temperatures and lower humidity expected Friday and into the weekend are a concern as they’re expected to elevate fire conditions again.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional state emergency resources, just one day after he issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties. Evacuations were ordered in Canadian, Glazier, Double Diamond, Arrowhead Addition, Maverick Village, Alibates, McBride, Mullinaw and Harbor Bay.
The forest service also raised wildland fire preparedness to level 3, expecting wildfire activity will increase over the next several days.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told The News Wednesday the fires had already killed up to “tens of thousands of head of cattle” and closed at least 13 school districts.
“It’s really bad,” Miller said. “It’s going to get worse.”
Crews from across the state have traveled to the Panhandle to help contain the fires, including 15 firefighters with the Fort Worth Fire Department, who said they could stay as long as two weeks.
Officials haven’t declared a cause for the cluster of blazes, but the region has experienced unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions and gusty winds.
Celebration Family Church in Fritch served as one of the hubs for people impacted by the fires to receive donated bottles of water, toiletries and a hot meal. The church opened its doors to the community as soon as the fires began, church elder Bobby Mack said.
”It makes me heart happy to see people bringing donations, but also hurts my heart to see all the people hurting,” said Mack, who has lived in Fritch his entire life.
As snow flurries fell outside Thursday morning, lightly coating roofs and grass, an American Red Cross representative visited the church.
”Looks like y’all have a great set up here,” the representative said to Mack.
”We’re doing what we can,” he replied.
Courtney Kirksey, a pastor at the church alongside her husband, Dwight, said the church served a similar purpose after fires devastated the town in 2014. Kirksey said she’s happy it’s a place where people feel safe.
”It’s a blessing circle, all the way around,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
