Posted on 03/15/2006 7:50:13 PM PST by native texan
UPDATE 03/15/2006 5:00 p.m. -- All of Lipscomb County, including the communities of Booker, Follett, Darrouzett and Higgins, as well as portions of Ochiltree County have been ordered to evacuate. Hwy 83 has been closed in the area. The fire is moving toward the Oklahoma border.
Texas Forest Service has set up a unified command center at the Amarillo DPS office.
East Amarillo Complex: Consists of two fires -- Borger and I-40
Borger Fire, Hutchinson County: approximately 50 percent contained, with the fire still active 450,000 Acres burned 72 miles x 20 miles long Eight towns were evacuated (Hoover, Lefors, McLean, Miami, Old and New Mobeetie, Skellytown, and Wheeler Skellytown, Wheeler, McLean and Leflors evacuations lifted 8 residences were lost in McLean Have shelters set up in Pampa and Whitedeer Interstate 40 was closed yesterday from Shamrock to Amarillo Interstate 40 Fire, Gray County: approximately 70 percent contained 350,000 Acres 55 miles x 20 miles long Seven fatalities: four in a 9 vehicle accident on IH 40, two civilians in Borger, one confirmed but no additional information 10 homes lost 80 vehicles and outbuildings lost Threatening Miami today, and heavy air tankers are working in this area Both Fires are still active
Buckle L2 Fire, Cottle and Childress Counties: approximately 50 percent contained and is active 40,000 Acres 15 miles x 6 miles long Active and growing Two type 1 helos, Two type 3 helos and SEATs
Other Information:
9 reported firefighter injuries 7 minor – treated and released 1 major – vehicle rollover 1 ranch hand – extensive 2nd degree burns
11 reported civilian fatalities on East Amarillo Complex 4 traffic related (I-40 fire, specifically) 7 fire related
2 civilians missing on East Amarillo Complex -- reported found safe 3/15/06
5 Airtankers available nationally, with 2 hr. response time On 3/14/2006, the heavy air tankers make 13 retardant drops, 8 on the I-40 fire and 4 on the Borger firel, for a total of 31,278 gallons of retardant.
TFS currently has outstanding orders for crews and equipment that have been routed all over the nation.
3/15/06 -- Additional equipment and personnel have been requested from Texas cities, with the following being dispatched to the Panhandle area: 35 brush trucks 15 structure engines 4 water tankers 8 command vehicles (chiefs) 1 ambulance
Texas has a history of large fires in the second week of March:
March 10 - 15, 1988 Big Country Fire 366,000 acres
March 12 - 18, 1996 Buckle L Fire 17,280 acres Threatened Childress
March 14 - 18, 1996 Triangle Fire 37,000 acres Threatened Crowell
Today's Outlook 03/15/2006:
A surface lee-side trough will strengthen over the western Panhandle today. As the surface gradient increases, strong south to southwest winds will occur today. North Texas will see surface high pressure slide east today with winds becoming southerly overnight followed by an increase in dew points Wednesday. There is a chance of rain Wednesday evening ahead of a cold front that will move through the area Thursday. An extensive precipitation event is expected Friday through Monday, with precipitation amounts expected to run between one and two inches in North Texas. Central Texas will see humidity increase today and tonight, although winds will pick up out of the southeast at 10 to 20 mph today. Light rain or drizzle is possible in the area tonight. Northeast Texas will see low RH today with upper level cloudiness and southeast winds. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms late tonight and tomorrow south of I-20.
For information on red flag warnings go to http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/.
News Channel 10, Amarillo, Texas
03.15.06
Fire May Cause More Evacuations
The Fire in Roberts County has regained strength and crossed the Canadian River. U.S. Highway 83 has been closed between Perryton andCanadian. Residents in southwest Lipscomb County including the town of Lipscomb should be prepared to evacuate.
03.15.06
DPS Cattle Warning
The DPS is warning motorists of the danger of cattle on Panhandle roadways. Due to the extensive fires in the Panhandle miles of fence have been burned. There will be cattle roaming on the roadways in these areas.
Prayers for our Texas - and prayers for Oklahoma as well. We've got to stop this fire somehow!
We're up to our necks in trouble here .......moisture in the forecast friday.........went down the road today to help a friend kill off part his herd , about a 100 cows that were burned very badly......not good .
Heading out to Mclean in the AM to do more of the same on a few sections he and his wife have there.........not good. Winds kicked up to 40's and gusts to 50+ and the dust is horrific. Dust Bowl era like situation on the horizon is a valid threat to the area.
Good nooze is there ain't much left to burn....
It is so frustrating to sit here and read all of this going on and most of us can't do a darn thing. My prayers are with all of you and the job that is before you for the next few days.
Here is a map of the fire locations:
http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php#
Put your cursor on the red dot and it will show the name of the fire and the acres covered.
We've been praying so hard for you here - we'll be making a donation to any charity willing to help you all out - and Central Texans are being asked to donate any hay or fencing materials we may have around here...
Tell your neighbors all of Texas stands ready to help.
It's getting done........thanks for the prayers. I have lost nothing as the fires started just east, north and south of my small ville in the Panhandle.
We gotta have some rain. For all who wonder about our landscape. Highway 83 area spoke of in your reports is the same spot that Tom Hanks was setting at in the film Castaway when he finally got to deliver that UPS package........an ocean of prairie grass.....sadly dry burning prairie grass this past week....
Pampa is my hometown where I grew up back in the '50's. A wonderful group of people.
Gotta water them old dry cowpaddies down good...or when the wind comes up they'll start up along the fire line behind you where you thought the fire was out.
Help, Donations and Prayers.........It is showing up and I will relay your words to those that have suffered losses in property and lives......lots of help in the area right now. Lots of DOD assets in the form of water trucks on loan from the military etc , camouflaged gear etc . Plenty of help ..........Thanks for the assistance.
Yeah I just got back and fires are still burning over in NE part of the Panhandle. Rain Friday !
from Texas Farm Bureau:
If you'd like to help provide hay, fencing materials, personal items and even financial contributions, phone or e-mail your pledge to Gene Hall, 254-751-2246, ghall@txfb.org, or mail checks to Gene Hall at: Texas Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Waco, TX. 76702-2689.
The following people and office are contacts regarding the relief effort in the Panhandle. These people are in the impacted area and on the scene. They have information about the fires, the aftermath and the donation site in Pampa.
Billy Bob Brown, Texas Farm Bureau State Director/Carson County Farmer - (H) 806-537-5554; (M) 806-290-8374
Jeff Ammons, Texas Farm Bureau Field Operations/Amarillo - (M) 806-433-1730
Gene Franks, Texas Farm Bureau Field Operations/Darrouzett - (M) 806-664-1133
Gray-Roberts County Farm Bureau Office/Pampa - 806-665-8451
Make checks payable to Texas Farm Bureau, and note "Fire Relief Fund."
I have an elderly cousin living outside of Saint Jo, just west of Sherman. Any fires in that area?
I've not heard of any in that area.
Man, oh man. Heartbreaking.
My prayers are with you and all those in the area. We can sit here and feel sorry for the situation we are in and the bang, something like this comes up and we realize how fortunate we really are.
Take care and stay safe.
I am so sorry to hear about all of this. That is a lot of terrible suffering that you report, and dealing with it mercifully is part of the suffering too. I am praying for all you folks and livestock, and it is good to hear that DOD resources are on the scene.
I was in a range fire once, and as you report one clings to the thought that once it burns, it's behind us. I hope that rain comes in soon and strong, and the grass grows back enough to prevent a lot of dust.
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