Hot weather warning as the largest fire spreads in the state

Firefighters improved containment of “large fires” in western Oklahoma on Thursday by taking advantage of rainfall and increased humidity, according to an Oklahoma Forest Service Facebook post.

The highest fire danger indicators will develop today in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Firefighters continue to work on large fires that were not contained earlier this week, focusing on areas with heat-retaining vegetation near existing control lines on the north and east sides of the fires.

A fire weather warning is in effect for areas of western and northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday, where high temperatures, strong southwest winds and low humidity increase the potential for large fires, the Oklahoma Forest Service report said.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire was 15% contained this morning. The Texas A&M Forest Service announced a 10% increase two hours after announcing the fire was only 5% contained. The fire is still estimated at 1,075,00 acres.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County, Texas, is 5% contained as of this morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The wildfire, which was 3% contained yesterday, received some rain and did not exceed the 1,075,000 acres burned that had already been accounted for. Crews are focusing on eliminating the northern edge of the Smokehouse Creek Fire and the areas surrounding buildings.

At 1.07 million acres, or 1,671 square miles, the Creekhouse Fire currently covering large portions of the Texas Panhandle and part of Oklahoma is not only large, but historically large.

The fire is the largest of the 20 largest wildfires in California, according to statistics from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

This makes it larger in area than the August 2020 Complex Fire, which was caused by lightning strikes in the Mendocino National Forest, at 1.03 million acres.

Department data dates back to 1932, and acknowledges that there were larger fires before that date, but in modern times, there are very few, if any, that can match the fires burning in Texas.

Critical weather conditions are expected to return starting at midday tomorrow and again after sunrise Sunday, the National Weather Service office in Amarillo said. This includes very dry, hot winds of up to 40 mph.

“Please completely refrain from outdoor activities that generate sparks or flames,” the service said in a statement. Share on X This morning.

Gov. Greg Abbott granted temporary waivers to three state agencies yesterday to more effectively respond to wildfires using all available resources.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will temporarily suspend rules to allow for efficient disposal of animal carcasses and remove potential barriers to disaster recovery.

Several regulations regarding commercial vehicle permits have been suspended at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), including interstate vehicle registration, 72-hour and 144-hour temporary registration permits, and oversize and overweight permits.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) waivers allow carriers to work extra hours without violating federal regulations and enhance efforts for life-saving measures.

“Texas continues to increase emergency response resources to combat rapidly expanding wildfires impacting Texans and communities across the state,” Abbott said in a news release. “By removing barriers to help Texans quickly respond to this crisis, we will be able to serve more communities across our state impacted by these devastating wildfires.”

Temporary suspension is granted to the extent that rules and requirements prevent, impede, or delay the state's ongoing response and recovery. They are limited to counties in the governor's disaster declaration.

A weather spotter captured on camera the incredible size of smoke clouds resulting from wildfires in Texas yesterday.

“You can't really imagine the scale,” Jeff Bartlett said on X. “Wide-angle video doesn't capture what you can see in person.”

CANADA, Texas — As record wildfires continue in Texas, a woman was killed after authorities said her truck was engulfed in flames. The Smokehouse Creek Fire has now burned more than 1 million acres. NBC's Morgan Chesky reports for “Today.”

A small fire broke out along Highway 33 outside Canada, Texas, yesterday as a remnant of the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hemphill County.

Anyone involved in agribusiness and affected by the Texas wildfires has been invited to attend two public meetings next week by the USDA.

The meetings are for “ranchers, livestock producers and landowners who have experienced forage loss and agricultural improvements [and] “Infrastructure and livestock due to recent wildfires,” a USDA notice said.

The first meeting will be at the Hemphill County Fair Center in Canada on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., while the second will be on Wednesday at the Amarillo National Bank branch in Borger at 1:30 p.m.

Several initiatives, including some set up by local companies, have provided fodder and fencing to the affected farmers.