02/29/2024

A Wildfire Scorching the Texas Panhandle has Grown to the Largest in State History

The Smokehouse Creek Fire is almost 17,000 square miles

A wildfire spreading across the Texas Panhandle became the largest in state history Thursday, growing to nearly 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers) of scorched rural ranchlands and destroyed homes.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has merged with another blaze and is 3 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Authorities have not said what ignited the blaze, known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which has burned since Monday and expanded in size with ferocious speed. The fire tore through dozens of homes, and officials have cautioned that the full extent of the damage remains unknown.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Associated Press.