Raging wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle early Wednesday morning, prompting state and local firefighters to mobilize resources in response to the escalating infernos that officials warned could expand in the days ahead.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued a disaster declaration on Tuesday for 60 counties, activating emergency response measures to combat the blazes raging across the Lone Star State.
The Texas A&M Forest Service cited dry weather conditions, soaring temperatures, and heightened wind speeds as exacerbating factors elevating the risk of wildfires spreading in certain areas. Officials cautioned that the strong winds forecasted for the rest of the week were likely to fuel the fires, potentially causing them to intensify further.
“Hot and arid conditions resulting from elevated temperatures and gusty winds are anticipated to persist in the region over the coming days,” Governor Abbott stated while announcing the disaster declaration. “These conditions heighten the potential for these wildfires to expand and become increasingly hazardous.”
Abbott urged Texans to minimize activities that could generate sparks and to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their families. He also expressed gratitude to the courageous firefighters and first responders who were tirelessly working to safeguard their fellow Texans.
Multiple wildfires were reported across the state, with the largest blaze, named the Smokehouse Creek Fire, ravaging Hutchinson County. Overnight, the inferno appeared to double in size. As of Wednesday morning, the Smokehouse Creek Fire had ballooned to 500,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service website, with containment efforts at 0 percent. Just hours earlier, officials had estimated the fire’s size to be around 300,000 acres.