Posted on 02/27/2024 2:58:16 PM PST by CFW
Texas governor issues disaster declaration From CNN’s Joe Sutton
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to wildfire activity, saying more counties could be added.
“The State of Texas stands ready to provide support to our local partners and deploy all resources needed to protect our fellow Texans and their property. Hot and dry conditions caused by high temperatures and windy conditions are expected to continue in the region in the coming days," the governor said in a statement.
Those conditions could mean the wildfires continue to grow larger and more dangerous, Abbott added.
"Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe," he said. "I also want to thank the brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect their fellow Texans.”
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
----
🚨 #BREAKING: A MASSIVE wildfire has completely surrounded the town of Canadian, TX and is expected to enter the town imminently.
All roads have been blocked, and an unknown amount of residents are trapped.
This is looking REALLY bad.
60 counties? That is quite sizeable.
“Hot and dry conditions caused by high temperatures...”
We know what Newsom would blame it on
Another article. Apparently people are trapped in Canadian.
People Trapped In Texas Town As Fires Rage Across Panhandle
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/people-trapped-in-texas-town-as-fires-rage-across-panhandle/ar-BB1j053z?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=9e424f962f7047e7a38f43d7759daef6&ei=21
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EXCERPT:
A fast moving wildfire in the Texas Panhandle has burned more than 300 square miles of land in just over 24 hours and left people trapped in a small town after mandatory evacuations were ordered.
Called the Smokehouse Creek Fire, it was reported late Monday afternoon in Hutchinson County, about 35 miles northeast of Amarillo. By around 5 p.m. Tuesday it had spread to 312 square miles and into neighboring Hemphill County.
“The fire is being fueled by winds gusting more than 60 mph,” weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles said. “At the same time, the humidity there was as low as 16 percent and temperatures unseasonably warm in the mid-70s.”
The blaze prompted evacuation orders for several areas. That included the town of Canadian in Hemphill County. But about 30 minutes after the order went out, the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office posted this update to Facebook:
“US 60/ 83 south is shut down at this time. We recommend sheltering in place in Canadian at this time. The high school gym in Canadian will be open soon if anyone is traveling (through) and needs shelter.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how dire the situation is.
It’s in the panhandle, very flat, gras fire, very few trees, many small towns, very rural in general. Very windy area. The big one (Smokehouse) is in the central panhandle and running east, it’s long and narrow. There’s a lot of room out there but if your house or town is in the way, not good. I’ve not seen how they fighting it, I imagine with everything given the terrain.
Lucky only one town in trouble so far. Being a grass fire, not forest, I’m hopeful the town people will be OK.
14 min ago
‘Looks like Armageddon’: Motel manager in Texas city of Canadian evacuated ahead of fire
From CNN’s Sharif Paget
Melanie McQuiddy, the manager of a small boutique motel in Canadian, Texas, told CNN she closed down her business and evacuated town as flames approached.
“It looks like Armageddon. All the trees are covered in white ash,” she told CNN over the phone. McQuiddy said she watched the fire burn all night when they were about 10 miles away.
McQuiddy’s daughter, Brooke McQuiddy, said she has friends who got stuck in Canadian after evacuation orders went out.
She said they were told to head over to Canadian High School for shelter.
“They are at the high school football field where multiple residents are together and are literally watching the flames start to take over Canadian,” she said.
“It’s been rapidly, rapidly moving, “ Brooke McQuiddy said right after learning that a friend’s home in the outskirts of Canadian had burned down.
Melanie McQuiddy said her home is also on the outskirts of town, and she prays it’s still standing.
As for the motel — The Last Cowboy’s Court — McQuiddy told CNN it was built in 1948 out of cinderblock with a metal roof. “There’s a chance if (the wildfire) moves fast enough, it will burn around us,” she said.
“There’s a chance if (the wildfire) moves fast enough, it will burn around us,” she said.”
That can happen with grass fires, that’s the hope for sure. Side note, this area is inside the borders of the infamous Dust Bowl, it’s seen its share of bad times.
Bkmk
I can’t bear it. Please, God, please protect all in harm’s way. This is just horrible.
\/ look at that link above,, the whole country just lit up. brandons minnions get the go signal ?
There are a lot of oil and gas wells around there. They should be fine. Gulp.
dew ?
lahaina on steroids ?
prayer up for all in harms way.
Dang it. Based on that map, my house is on fire. Well, the news did report a 10-acre grass fire down the road.
14 min ago
Hospital patients and assisted living homes are evacuated in Canadian, Texas
From CNN’s Amanda Jackson and Elizabeth Wolfe
A medical system in Canadian, Texas, says it has safely evacuated its hospital patients and the residents of two residential care facilities as wildfires threaten the area.
The Hemphill County Hospital District relocated its inpatients, as well as residents at Mesa View Senior Living and Mesa View Assisted Living, to the city of Pampa, about 50 miles to the southwest of Canadian, according to a Facebook post.
Canadian was under a mandatory evacuation order Tuesday afternoon, but officials later recommended residents shelter in place due to road closures, the Hemphill County Sheriff’s office said on Facebook.
“Prayers of safety for our residents, patients, and entire community and region!” the medical system said.
Canadian is about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo.
50 min ago
More than 200 people are sheltering in a church in Fritch, including some who’ve lost homes
From CNN’s Sharif Paget
More than 200 people are sheltering in a church in Fritch, Texas, after raging wildfires forced people to flee their homes Tuesday afternoon, church leaders say.
“We have a lot of people at the facility who confirmed they lost their homes,” Celebration Family Church pastor Dwight Kirksey told CNN. “Of course, they’re devastated and heartbroken.”
A team of more than 50 volunteers has been consoling the displaced community members, said Kirksey, who also serves as Hutchinson County commissioner.
“They’ve been comforting the needs of the heart with hugs and embraces and letting them know that they’re here with us and alive and we’ll get through this.”
Outside, thick smoke has darkened the sky and reduced visibility to about 100 yards or less, Kirksey said. Bobby Mac, a church elder, said some homes can be seen burning from the church.
Several people sheltering at the church initially tried to ride out the blaze but had to flee when flames reached their homes, Mac said.
Mac described the residents of West Texas as tough and resilient, so he’s not surprised they decided to hunker down.
“But when a wildfire is blowing through your town there’s not a whole lot you can do,” he said.
Cattle ranchers unsure of “what is alive and isn’t”
From CNN’s Amanda Jackson and Elizabeth Wolfe
Towering columns of smoke approached an 80,000-acre ranch outside of Stinnett, Texas, Tuesday, where employees stayed behind to move cattle out of the blaze’s path, a ranch worker’s spouse told CNN.
“We cut the fences and unfortunately had to get out due to firefighters having to go save communities,” said Katlyn Butler, whose husband works at Turkey Track Ranch.
Ranch workers had no time to evacuate livestock as the rapidly growing Smokehouse Creek Fire tore toward them.
Video shared by Butler shows a group of cattle running in the opposite direction of plumes of glowing smoke and fire. They trampled over tufts of brittle, dry grasses that may serve as more fuel for the wildfire.
“We’ve lost cattle. Not sure what is alive and isn’t,” Butler said.
The blazes have “enough fuel to keep going,” meteorologist warns
From CNN’s Joe Sutton
The blazes “still have enough fuel to keep going,” National Weather Service Amarillo Meteorologist Christian Rangel told CNN Tuesday night.
“We have had a high wind and fire event go through ... (and) right now at our office, we are getting gusts up to 35 mph,” Rangel said, adding the winds have switched directions — something forecasters had warned would happen and could help flames expand in a different direction.
There have been reports of damage, including burned structures, in the areas that are under fire warnings and had to be evacuated, Rangel said.
Winds will be strong until early Wednesday morning and humidities should begin to rise Tuesday night, he added.
“Wednesday we are not outlooked for critical fire weather conditions,” Rangel said.
A cold front went through tonight. Once the wind dies down, the fire will go out. No wind, no fire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.