TEXAS: Largest Wildfire In State History Rages On
STINNETT, Texas – Critical fire weather conditions returned to the Texas Panhandle this weekend, adding fresh headaches to firefighters trying to contain the largest wildfire in state history.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire north of Stinnett remains at about 1.08 million acres burned with 15% containment as of Sunday morning, fire officials said. At least two people have died in the blaze.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that early estimates show as many as 500 structures have been destroyed. At least five firefighters have been injured while battling the blazes, according to Texas Department of Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd.
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![At least 2 dead after the largest wildfire in Texas]()
STINNETT, TEXAS – MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
WATCH: FORT WORTH FIREFIGHTERS DRIVE THROUGH FLAMES TO JOIN BATTLE AGAINST TEXAS WILDFIRE
After a coating of snow graced the region on Thursday – slowing the fire’s spread and allowing firefighters to gain ground from 3% to 15% containment – warm, dry and windy weather returned for the weekend.
This graphic shows the fire weather outlook for Sunday.(FOX Weather)
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center warned of critical fire weather conditions across the Texas Panhandle and into much of the southern High Plains, including Midland, Lubbock and Amarillo in Texas, as well as Pueblo in Colorado.
As a result, Fire Weather Warnings are spread across 11 states, covering more than 10.5 million people through Sunday.
Fire weather alerts for the central U.S.(FOX Weather)
Where the Smokehouse Creek and nearby Windy Deuce Fire are burning, wind gusts are forecast to reach 20-35 mph on Sunday, with gusts up to 55 mph possible. In addition, humidity will drop into single digits, perhaps as low as 8%.
With these weather conditions, along with grass fuels in the area, the fires have the potential to move at 1-3 mph and burn as fast as 900-1,500 acres per hour.
“It’s going to be a very active weekend,” Kidd said during a news conference Friday.
The status of wildfires in Texas.(FOX Weather)
Similar dry, windy conditions last week allowed the Smokehouse Creek Fire to explode in size from spark to more than 1 million acres in just over three days.
Drone video shows damage caused by Texas Panhandle wildfire
Aerial video shows the destruction caused by a wildfire in the town of Fritch, Texas.
While some of that fire has now scorched land in Oklahoma, the acreage burned in Texas is now the largest wildfire in state history. That includes what was known as the 687Reamer Fire, which has been absorbed by Smokehouse Creek.
Family loses home of 20 years to Texas wildfire
How a Texas family escaped a fast-moving wildfire
A Texas family says their home was destroyed by a fast moving blaze that tore through the Texas Panhandle.
One of the many families picking up the pieces after the wildfires raged through Texas was Ronnie and Susan Johnson. Their family members were at their home in Fritch when flames raced toward their ranch.
“I rushed home to grab my dogs out of the kennel, and threw them into the back of my vehicle,” Susan Johnson told FOX Weather. “About that time, Ronnie got here, and I grabbed a tub full of important papers and threw it in the car.”
Ronnie said he was going out on his tractor to try to stop the fire.
“He told me to go, and I left with my dog, but he stayed behind to fight the fire,” Susan Johnson said. “He stopped (the flames) in one spot, but it snuck up around him on another (eventually) going around Ronnie and caught everything on fire. Then Ronnie got out of there with his tires smoking hot.”
The family returned to find their home of the last 20 years had been destroyed.
Susan said they will rebuild.
“We have seven children here, and I have 11 grandbabies so far, and I have every intention of those grandbabies coming to Mimi’s house,” she said. “There will be another home and a great big table.”
Kidd said an investigation into the cause of the wildfires is underway.
Long-range forecasts show continued dry and windy conditions lingering into the workweek, with no significant chance of rain over at least the next seven days.
–foxweather.com
