PHOTOS: Panhandle fire grows to largest wildfire in Texas history

Abigail Jones
·3 min read
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TEXAS PANHANDLE (KXAN) — Residents in several counties in Texas’ Panhandle were issued evacuation orders as multiple wildfires have burned and spread in the area since Monday.

One of the fires, called the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Hutchinson County, became the largest in state history Thursday, growing to nearly 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers), or about 1,075,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire merged with another blaze and is 3% contained, according to the Forest Service.

In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas, Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. A rapidly widening Texas wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas, Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. A rapidly widening Texas wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas, Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. A rapidly widening Texas wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Flower Mound, Texas, Fire Department, Flower Mound firefighters respond to a fire in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. A rapidly widening Texas wildfire doubled in size Tuesday and prompted evacuation orders in at least one small town. (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)

The previous largest wildfire recorded in state history also occurred in Hutchinson County, according to maps and archives from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Known as the East Amarillo Complex fire, it ignited on March 12, 2006 and burned 907,245 acres, according to the Forest Service. It is also recorded as the deadliest fire in Texas history, with 13 fatalities reported.

Wildfire grows into 2nd-largest in Texas history as flames menace multiple small towns

  • Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
    Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
  • Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
    Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
  • Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
    Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
  • Smoke rises from smoldering hay bales outside the town of Canadian, Texas on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2024. A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history Wednesday, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening flames.(AP Photo/Sean Murphy)
  • Smoke rises from smoldering hay bales outside the town of Canadian, Texas on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2024. A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history Wednesday, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening flames. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)
  • Smoke rises from smoldering hay bales outside the town of Canadian, Texas on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2024. A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history Wednesday, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening flames. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)
  • Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)
    Large wildfire destroys homes and belongings in Canadian, Texas Feb. 27, 2024. (Ryan Chandler/Nexstar)

A video of charred pastures and columns of smoke seen in the distance was captured by KXAN’s Ryan Chandler on the drive to Canadian, Texas on Wednesday.

Another video showed debris left behind from buildings that were destroyed in wildfires in Canadian.

Firefighters from several Central Texas emergency districts headed to the Texas panhandle to assist in fighting the fires.

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