- Written by Phil McCausland
- bbc news
Video: Fire trucks drive through raging Texas wildfires
Wildfires in Texas are rapidly spreading, killing one person, forcing residents to evacuate, cutting off power to homes and businesses, and temporarily suspending operations at nuclear facilities.
The fire burned 1.1 million acres north of Amarillo, making it the second largest fire in U.S. history.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties.
Dry grass, high temperatures and strong winds are fueling the fire, which is still 3% contained.
In Hutchinson County, one of the hardest hit areas, one person died in the fire, Public Engagement Coordinator Deidre Thomas told CNN. The woman was identified by her family as Joyce Blankenship, 83, a former substitute teacher.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, as its name suggests, has already burned 1.1 million acres, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
The West Odessa Fire Department said on Facebook that the fire was “the largest and most destructive fire in Texas history,” surpassing the East Amarillo Complex fire that burned more than 900,000 acres in 2006. .
The department also said the fire was the second largest wildfire in U.S. history.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said winds had dropped slightly, slowing the spread of the fire.
Rain and cooler temperatures are expected in the state's northern Panhandle on Thursday, which could aid firefighting efforts.
Meanwhile, Texas Emergency Management Agency spokesman Seth Christensen said hundreds of firefighters and first responders were dispatched to the blaze.
Governor Abbott on Wednesday authorized additional state resources to extinguish the fire, including 94 fire personnel, 33 fire engines and six air tankers.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire forced the evacuation of several towns, neighborhoods in Amarillo, and other communities, according to the Forest Service and local law enforcement.
The National Weather Service warned residents near Amarillo to stay indoors with their pets due to poor air quality. Texas is warning farmers about potential impacts to agriculture and livestock.
More than 85% of the state's cattle are raised in the Panhandle.
Hemphill County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Kendall said he saw “hundreds of cows just lying dead in the field.”
Turkey Truck Ranch, one of the state's historic ranches, announced that 80% of its 120-year-old, 80,000-acre property was damaged by fire.
“The loss of livestock, crops, wildlife, and ranch fencing and other infrastructure on our property, as well as other ranches and housing throughout the region, is unprecedented in our history. We believe that,” the owners said in a statement.
More than 4,800 homes and businesses are without power in the affected areas, according to PowerOutage.us.
WATCH: Texas wildfire aftermath resembles a 'moonscape'
Concerns about a growing fire on the north side of the Pantex nuclear weapons facility in Amarillo led to the facility being temporarily closed and personnel evacuated Tuesday night. The plant is an important site for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of U.S. nuclear weapons.
Pantex announced on Facebook that there was no fire on the factory premises and operations resumed on Wednesday morning.
Raev Pendergraft, a nuclear safety engineer with Pantex's National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, said at a press conference Tuesday night that an emergency response team has been activated.
He added that the plant's fire department is “trained for these scenarios.”
The Forest Service said it was also battling other fires in Texas.
Unexpectedly high temperatures sparked wildfires in neighboring states, including Nebraska and Kansas.
More than 30,000 acres have burned in Oklahoma, just north of the state, and at least 13 homes have been destroyed, according to the Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency.
