Texas wildfires: Crews battling massive inferno have key opportunity to contain blazes with calm weather

CNN
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Monday's cold front may give firefighters their best chance to contain the blaze in days as they race to extinguish the largest blaze in Texas history. Hot and ferocious winds have been stirring up an inferno in recent days, reducing neighborhoods to rubble and inflicting horrific injuries on ranchers' livestock.

A front arrived Monday morning, bringing an influx of cooler weather. Breezes eased by early afternoon and calm air persisted into Tuesday, allowing firefighters to escape the severe fire danger conditions that fueled the explosive spread of wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.

The raging Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned more than 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle since it ignited last Monday, but is only 15% contained. The fire killed at least two people and spread to Oklahoma, burning more than 31,000 acres.

Five fires burned across the Panhandle, destroying 500 homes and businesses, state officials said. A new fire, the Roughneck Fire, broke out in Hutchinson County on Sunday, prompting evacuations from the county as crews scrambled to get supplies to the area.

Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman Jason Nedro told CNN on Saturday.

But the fires have so far been fueled by an abundance of fuel, including a blanket of grass that grew in this winter's above-average rainfall.

“There's a lot of fuel on the ground,” Nedro said. “High fuel load levels, combined with high winds and low humidity, create the conditions for large, fast-burning wildfires.”

• New fires prompt evacuations: The Roughneck Fire started burning on Sunday and spread to cover the entire country. Approximately 300 acres It is also the site of the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County. The fire prompted an evacuation order for the town of Sanford, which began to be lifted later that evening, county officials said. The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire had stopped advancing and was 50% contained as of Monday afternoon.

• Several other fires are still burning. The Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County has burned 144,000 acres and is 55% contained as of Sunday night, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The Grapevine Creek Fire in Gray County has burned approximately 35,000 acres and is 60% contained. The Magenta Fire in Oldham County has burned 3,297 acres and is 85% contained.

• Significant progress made in containment of Oklahoma fire: “The Smokehouse Creek Fire appears to have good boundaries and will be turned over to local departments tomorrow,” Oklahoma Forest Service spokesman Keith Mercks said Sunday. “The fire will be 75% contained by the end of today's shift.” The fire has burned more than 31,500 acres in Oklahoma near the Texas border.

• At least two people have died. Truck driver Cindy Owen was on duty Tuesday when the Smokehouse Creek Fire broke out about 80 miles north of Pampa, Texas, her sister-in-law told CNN. Jennifer Mitchell, the wife of Owen's brother, said she tried to get out of the truck and run for safety, but she suffered fatal burns over most of her body. Joyce Blankenship, 83, was found dead in nearby Hutchinson County, her family announced. “The house is gone,” said her grandson, Nathan Blankenship. “There was no way for her to get out.”

• The devastating loss of beef cattle has devastated local ranchers. As fire races through dozens of ranches and acres. Thousands of cows were killed on farmland, and ranchers were forced to destroy many animals with painful burns to their hooves, udders and fur, authorities reported. Ranchers and local officials told CNN that while beef prices would not be affected, the fires could leave lasting economic scars for ranchers.

• How we can help: GoFundMe has launched a platform for verified fundraisers to benefit Texans affected by the wildfires, including dozens of families who lost their homes, belongings, and livestock. The Texas Department of Agriculture has established a fund to help farmers and ranchers. CNN's Impact Your World also revealed several charities supporting wildfire victims.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state has seen damage from tornadoes and hurricanes, but the wildfires have brought unprecedented destruction and “complete devastation” to many Panhandle residents.

“When you look at the aftermath of (hurricane and tornado) damage, you often see structures that are still there,” Abbott said Friday. “If you look at the damage here, it's just gone. It's completely gone. There's nothing left but ash on the ground.”

Officials estimate 400 to 500 structures were destroyed, but Abbott said that number could rise as damage continues to be assessed. 

Tyler McCain and his family desperately evacuated their home on Tuesday, only to return to find their life's possessions had been incinerated. Mr. McCain and his wife were able to pack up their three daughters and leave their home in Fritsch, Texas, on time, but Mr. McCain was haunted by doubts about whether his home would survive. Ta.

“It wasn't real until I saw my house,” McCain said. The house was destroyed and unrecognizable.

Susan and Lonnie Johnson also fought tooth and nail to save their five-bedroom ranch near Fritch, only to see their 20-year life go up in flames.

“You don't want to believe your house is going to burn,” Ronnie told CNN.

All that remains now is a pile of charred rubble. A dining table, shards of fine white pottery, a blue and red Dutch oven, chairs and a smoker were scattered across the desolate site, covered in dust, debris and fallen trees.

Susan said she was “numb” at the loss, but said she still holds on to the fond memories she and her nine family members made in the home.

“We're going to rebuild and start again,” Ronnie said.

CNN’s Dalia Faheed, Camila Bernal, Robert Shackelford, Joe Sutton, Melissa Alonso, Chris Boett, Andy Rose and Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.