Texas Governor’s Remarks
Texas governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Tuesday for 60 counties because of wildfires in the Panhandle town of Texas near the Oklahoma border. The wildfires have prompted warnings for residents of the panhandle to evacuate in some counties.
Thankfully, no deaths have been registered in the fires, which officials say are being fueled by hot, dry conditions. This is a call for climate change and the soil degradation.
“I issued a disaster declaration today to ensure critical fire response resources are swiftly deployed to areas in the Texas Panhandle being impacted by devastating wildfires,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.
In Hutchinson County, northeast of Amarillo, the “Smokehouse Creek Fire” has consumed approximately 100,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The wildfire broke out on Monday, and by Tuesday morning, it was reported to be around 100,000 acres, according to the Texas Forest Service.
The National Weather Service described fire conditions in Hutchinson County on Tuesday as “critical,” with very dry grass and maximum wind gusts of 65 mph, this is the optimal conditions for wildfires.
The community of Scotts Acres in Stinnett, a settlement with an estimated population of 1,600 that is the seat of Hutchinson County, was under a mandatory evacuation order Tuesday, officials said. Gas to the city had been shut off on Tuesday to prevent any gas leaks from further worsening the conditions but was later turned back on as the forest department saw no problem with it.
A video on social media from the Stinnett area showed cattle running across the field behind a vehicle, with smoke from the fires behind them, the video depicts the landscape of thepanhandle
“We’ve been on fire for 24 hours,” Katy Butler said. She also said that “our ranch is on its own as all fire departments had to move into town to save communities.”
Firefighters respond to a fire in the Panhandle, Tuesday, on 27 feb, 2024. A rapidly increasing the wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. Flower Mound Fire Department said.
High wind warnings were also issued across northwestern texas
Texas regions engulfed in wildfire
To add on, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the Grape Vine Creek Fire, which is also in the Texas Panhandle, was around 30,000 acres with 20% containment, and the Juliet Pass Fire which was also in the panhandle was a little more than 2,900 acres and 90% contained, according to the State’s A&M Forest Service.
People left devastated
About 200+ people are sheltering in a church in Fritch after raging wildfires forced people to flee their homes on Tuesday afternoon.
“We have a lot of people at the facility who confirmed they lost their homes,” said Celebration Family Church pastor Dwight Kirksey, “they’re devastated and heartbroken.”
A team of about 50+ volunteers has been giving the devastated people counselling.
“They’ve been comforting the needs of the heart with hugs and embraces and letting them know that they’re here with us and alive and we’ll get through this.”
The thick smoke has made the visibility range very poor. Reduced visibility to about an approximate 100 yards or less, Kirksey said. another person from the church said that some homes can be seen burning from the church.
Several people are currently sheltering at the church who initially had tried to stop the burning, but had to flee when the fire reached their home.
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