The video shows Texas firefighters driving down a highway surrounded by a wildfire
The video shows Greenville Fire Department firefighters driving wildfires on a highway in the Texas Panhandle.
More than 4,000 homes and businesses are without power in Texas
The wildfires left 4,254 power customers without power as of Wednesday morning, according to the energy tracking website. PowerOutage.us.
That includes about 2,000 customers in Hutchinson County, where the Smokehouse fire has already burned more than 300,000 acres.
“Tragedies and Miracles” in Forest Fire Evacuation
“The Panhandle needs prayers” as fires continue to spread, said a sheriff’s office in a neighboring county working to evacuate people from fire-dangerous homes.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office is handling calls about the 40,000-acre Windy Deuce fire in Moore County, which is 20% contained, and is assisting deputies in Hutchinson County, where the massive Smokehouse Creek fire is now at 300,000 acres.
“Today we saw tragedy and we saw miracles. Today was a historic event, we hope it will not happen again,” the office said in a post on Facebook.
At least 5 wildfires are burning in the Texas Panhandle
Firefighters were battling at least five wildfires in the Texas Panhandle that have burned nearly 400,000 acres. Texas A&M Forest Incident Viewer.
The largest, on Smokehouse Creek in Hutchinson County, has grown over 300,000 acres, 450 square miles, and contains 0%. It is the fifth largest wildfire in Texas history, according to A&M.
At least four fires have been contained, including a small one near Amarillo.
Evacuations were ordered across the Panhandle
In several places in north Texas, authorities told people to leave their homes as wildfires continued to spread.
The National Weather Service in Amarillo said there was a mandatory evacuation order for the Mesilla Park area of Potter County Tuesday night.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office said the Double Diamond area west of Fritch was under an emergency evacuation alert.
“Due to the approaching fire, it is important for your safety and well-being to evacuate the area,” the office said in a statement. A shelter has opened at Celebration Family Church, 811 E, Broadway, Fritch.
The Hemphill County Hospital District said it was transferring all patients and residents from the hospital and nursing homes in Canada City to facilities in southwest Pampa.
A massive forest fire is raging in Texas
Evacuations were ordered and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster for 60 counties as wildfires burned across parts of the panhandle.