Multiple Wildfires Ravage Texas Panhandle, Forcing Evacuations

• Smokehouse Creek Fire is fifth-largest in Texas history, burning 300,000 acres.

• Amarillo's nuclear weapons facility temporarily shut down due to fires.

• Over 300,000 acres burned, leaving one Texas county without power and water.

This image taken from Greenville Fire-Rescue's facebook page on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 shows fires in the Texas Panhandle. A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the se

AP

Multiple wildfires are currently raging in the Texas panhandle, forcing residents to flee as communities burn to the ground. The Smokehouse Creek Fire has become the fifth-largest fire in Texas state history, scorching over 300,000 acres and crossing into Oklahoma. Local officials are struggling to contain the blaze, with homes burning in almost every direction.

The fires have left at least one county in Texas without power and water, and Amarillo, home to a nuclear weapons facility, is a major area of concern. The facility was temporarily shut down due to the fires but has since reopened. The air in Amarillo is thick with smoke, making it difficult to breathe, and the dry conditions are fueling the wildfires.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for 60 counties, with more than 300,000 acres burned so far. The Pantex plant, America's nuclear arsenal, is located near the fires but has not been directly impacted. However, surrounding rural areas have been devastated, with livestock unable to be evacuated in some places.

3

Amarillo's nuclear weapons facility temporarily shut down due to fires.

3

Smokehouse Creek Fire is fifth-largest in Texas history, burning 300,000 acres.

3

Over 300,000 acres burned, leaving one Texas county without power and water.

Residents in affected areas are facing chaos, with some forced to evacuate while others shelter in churches. The city of Fritch had its natural gas shut down, and the hospital in Canadian, Texas, had to evacuate all patients. The situation is dire, with reports of animals fleeing the flames and residents describing scenes of Armageddon.

As the fires spread to neighboring Oklahoma, the region is in a state of emergency, with emergency response teams on high alert. The priority remains on ensuring the safety of residents and protecting lives and property from the devastating wildfires.