AMARILLO, TX – The state of Texas is grappling with severe wildfires, prompting a disaster declaration for 60 counties and evacuation orders in the Texas Panhandle. The declaration was issued by Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday, in response to the extensive wildfire activity throughout the state.
The disaster declaration is expected to expedite the deployment of fire response resources to the affected areas in the Texas Panhandle. The wildfires have also led to precautionary evacuations at the Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant in Amarillo, although all special materials are reported safe and unaffected.
The wildfires have also impacted Carson County, leading to the evacuation of nonessential personnel and a pause in operations at the Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant. The facility, which is approximately 13 miles from the Windy Deuce Fire, has confirmed that all weapons and special materials remain safe.
The fires have also crossed into northwestern Oklahoma, causing a hospital and nursing home evacuation in Shattuck. Several state and local highways have also been affected. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported responding to 13 wildfires on Monday, with conditions on Tuesday being ideal for further wildfire activity.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County has been one of the most severe, burning 500,000 acres and remaining 0% contained as of Wednesday morning. The Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County has burned an estimated 38,000 acres and was 20% contained as of Tuesday evening.
Over 40 houses have been damaged in Fritch, a city located in Hutchinson and Moore counties. Parts of the city have been evacuated, with mandatory evacuations in effect for several towns and communities in the Amarillo region. Governor Abbott has warned that the wildfires could grow in the coming days due to high temperatures and windy conditions.