Monday, February 26th, the ruthless “Smokehouse Creek Fire” ignited. As of Thursday, February 29th, the fire scorched just over one million acres of land, with only 3% contained. The inferno consumed houses, ranches, and livestock. Its massive size has made it the largest fire in Texas history and the second largest in U.S. history.
“This is now both the largest and most destructive fire in Texas history,”
West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department
The “Smokehouse Creek Fire” is not alone, there are four other recorded fires.
How Much Damage Each Fire Has Done
- Windy Deuce Fire– 142,000 acres and is 50% contained.
- Grape Vine Creek Fire– 30,000 acres and is 60% contained
- Magenta Fire– 2,500 acres and is 65% contained.
- 687 Reamer Fire– originally more than 2,000 acres and 10% contained, before merging with Smokehouse Creek.
Firefighters from across the region have been deployed following Governor Gregg Abbott’s announcement of a disaster declaration over 60 counties on Tuesday.
With strong winds reaching up to 30mph, firefighters have to work fast to contain the blaze before it reaches an unattainable size. The vicious winds came about at the worse times, worsening the already horrific state of the fire. Texas State Climatologist John Nielson-Gammon said, “like a hurricane making landfall at high tide.”
Despite it being winter, temperatures are unusually high, even for Texas. On Monday, temperatures in dryer parts of the northern region, reached up to the mid-80s. However, we are hopeful that the forecast will continue as expected, and move into the cool 30s and 40s with a possible chance of rain or snow. These conditions won’t be strong enough to extinguish the flames but we are hopeful that this will help contain the fires.
“In these conditions, firefighters have been working on life safety missions and point protection, assisting with evacuations,” Kari Hines, the PIO for the Texas A&M Forest Service said to CBS news.
The Texas A&M Forest Service is coordinating the deployment of almost 200 firefighters from several departments, including– Greenville Fire Rescue, Plano Fire Department, Grand Prairie Fire Department, and the Flower Mound Fire Department.
Throughout this tragedy, Texans have united, supporting each other, and giving hope where it is lost. Volunteers from Texas Baptist Men plan to bring a command and feeding truck that will carry enough supplies to feed up to 1000 people per day.
Texas Baptist Men is a Christian group that offers aid to those in need, in their mission statement they state, “An unending stream of TBM men and women have served sacrificially around the world after every natural disaster in the United States and after many disasters worldwide. As Texans on Mission, TBM volunteers have provided tens of thousands of people clean drinking water in the midst of some of the most difficult situations.”
Full Mission Statement Here
“We have chaplains and all of our volunteers are trained to offer a shoulder to cry on, part of what we’re trying to do is bring that help, hope, and healing and that’s something we share all the time,” said David Wells, the director of disaster relief for Texas Baptist Men.
Remembering
Courtesy to Nathan Blankenship/Facebook
As of February 29th, two people have been confirmed deceased due to the fire.
Joyce Blankenship, 83, a former substitute teacher was found in her home, family members said.
Cindy Owens, believed to be in her 40s from Amarillo, was found in Canadian where the fire “overtook her” when she exited her truck, the Texas Department of Public Safety stated. [No images have been released]