Containment of deadly Texas wildfire grows as firefighters face worsening weather this weekend
Firefighters have made some progress containing the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in the Texas Panhandle, but dangerous weather that could lead to rapidly spreading blazes is forecast to return this weekend.
Dangerous fire weather conditions return to Texas Panhandle amid historic wildfires
After getting a couple inches of snow Thursday allowing for some progress on the deadly Smokehouse Creek fire in Texas, firefighters will soon face a return of critical fire weather conditions over the weekend.
STINNETT, Texas – After a welcome snowfall gave firefighters a brief break from hot and dry conditions while fighting the largest wildfire in Texas history, crews are now facing a return to dangerous fire weather over the weekend.
The deadly Smokehouse Creek wildfire has exploded to more than 1 million acres of land in just four days in the Texas Panhandle. At least one person has died and dozens of structures have been damaged or destroyed.
A weak area of low pressure swung through the Texas wildfire zones Thursday and produced a light coating of snow, but now temperatures are rising, humidity is dropping, and winds are increasing, again.
Watch: Texas firefighters drive through burning embers and blackout smoke
The Fort Worth Fire Department was deployed to the Smokehouse Creek Fire, second-largest in the history of the state. This crew had to drive through burning embers and blackout smoke to get past a point where the fire was trying to jump the highway.
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Winds on Saturday are expected to gust up to 40 mph and then will increase slightly on Sunday with gusts up to 50 mph, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Humidity levels may drop to 5-10%. Little, if any, rain is forecast over the next seven days.
"It's going to be a very active weekend," Texas Department of Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd said.
Fire Weather Warnings stretch from the eastern Rockies, through the Plains and include areas recently devastated by fires.
Over 1.25 million acres charred by several Texas wildfires
Five major wildfires in the Texas Panhandle have consumed over 1.25 million acres, prompting evacuations, road closures and emergency declarations. The largest fire burning remains the Smokehouse Creek Fire north of Stinnett, at a Texas record 1.078 million acres and only 15% containment.
The status of wildfires in the Texas Panhandle as of March 1, 2024.
(FOX Weather)
That fire claimed a life in Hutchinson County north of Amarillo, and dozens of structures were damaged after flames erupted Monday.
WATCH: FORT WORTH FIREFIGHTERS DRIVE THROUGH FLAMES TO JOIN BATTLE AGAINST TEXAS WILDFIRE
The fire exploded in size midweek, growing from 300,000 acres to 1.075 million acres in two days as it raced east. While some of that fire has now scorched land in Oklahoma, the 1.05 million acres burned in Texas is now the largest wildfire in state history. That includes what was known as the 687Reamer Fire, which has been absorbed by Smokehouse Creek.
The Smokehouse Creek fire is just one of several that are burning across the region. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that early estimates show as many as 500 structures have been destroyed. At least five firefighters have been injured while battling the blazes, according to Kidd.
Kidd said cause and origin investigations are underway.
Windy Deuce Fire devastates town of Fritch, Texas
Farther west, the Windy Deuce Fire has burned 142,000 acres across Moore, Potter and Carson counties, leading to the evacuation of several communities. The fire has consumed about half the town of Fritch and remains only 50% contained.
"Well, our house is still standing," homeowner Lee Quesada said during a video tour of his scorched neighborhood. "But then, if you look over on the other side of that tree, which is on fire, two structures, neighbors, two houses down across the street on fire."
Texas resident surveys scorched town after wildfire tears through
A local in Fritch, Texas, captured video of extensive damage seen in the town after wildfires ripped through parts of the state’s panhandle on Tuesday.
And to the south and east of the massive Smokehouse Creek Fire, the Grape Vine Creek Fire is 60% contained after burning 30,000 acres.
The fires are not only sending residents scrambling for safety but also sending thick plumes of smoke across the Texas Panhandle and into the Plains.
Smoke forecast for Friday March 1, 2024.
(FOX Weather)
Wind forecasts show that smoke will continue to push north across the Oklahoma Panhandle through Kansas and Nebraska into Minnesota and western Wisconsin, on Friday, though not as thick as Thursday.
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Fire scorches weather station as thermometer reads 126 degrees
The fire spread into the town of Canadian, Texas, on Tuesday, where flames burned through an automated weather station Tuesday afternoon.
According to the West Texas Mesonet, which operates the station, a temperature as high as 126 degrees was recorded at the site before it was destroyed.
This graphic shows the largest wildfires in Texas history.
(FOX Weather)
Operations at a nuclear weapons facility outside of Amarillo were halted after flames got dangerously close to the property. Late Tuesday, Pantex said all the facility's employees were accounted for, and firefighters were in structure protection mode, but the property remains secure.