Texas wildfire Thursday recap: Smokehouse Creek Fire becomes largest fire in Texas history
Note: This file is no longer being updated. For the latest updates Friday on the Texas wildfires, go to our Friday live updates.
A fire in the West Texas Panhandle that's been raging since Monday had mushroomed by Thursday into the largest wildfire in Texas history, consuming well over 1 million acres of prairieland, homes and other property.
It's just one of several fires fueled by strong winds and dry conditions that have been devastating the Texas Panhandle and spreading into Oklahoma, impacting property and human lives as crews struggle to contain them.
By Thursday, the Smokehouse Creek Fire was up to approximately 1,075,000 acres in the Texas Panhandle region and several new fires have popped up. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has upgraded the Texas State Emergency Operations Center readiness level and allowed more resources to be deployed to the impacted areas. Abbott also announced a visit and news conference for Friday afternoon in Borger, a community impacted by the Smoke Creek Fire.
Authorities by late Wednesday confirmed one person, an 83-year-old grandmother from Stinnett, had died, but warned a thorough search of the extensive damage had not yet been conducted.
To see the latest air quality updates for parts of Texas, go to AirNow.gov
This is a developing news story. Check back for the latest updates.
Red Cross opens shelters in Panhandle cities | 5:15 p.m.
The American Red Cross North Texas Region is participating in disaster assistance centers in Canadian and Borger on Friday.
FridayFairlanes Baptist Church3000 Fairlanes Blvd. in Borger10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Red Cross is still operating two shelters open to anyone who needs a safe place to stay, food, water and basic supplies or charge their devices.
Borger
Jonhson Youth Center1201 Bulldog Blvd. in Borger
WellingtonWellington Activity Center501 Corsicana St. in Wellington
For the most up-to-date list of all Red Cross shelters, visit redcross.org/shelter.
National Weather Service in Amarillo issues Fire Weather Watch until early next week | 5 p.m.
With strong winds and low humidity predicted, the NWS in Amarillo has issued a Fire Weather Watch from Thursday until Monday, March 4.
The following 20 counties are impacted in Texas: Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, Collingsworth and Palo Duro Canyon.
Gov. Greg Abbott announces planned visit | 3 p.m.
Gov. Abbott will receive a briefing and hold a press conference on the state’s ongoing response to wildfires impacting communities across Texas in an event at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Borger.
The Governor will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and other state and local officials.
Hemphill County judge says county 'still on fire', ask volunteers to hold off for a time | 1:20 p.m.
As reported by the Canadian Record, Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson is asking those wishing to help allow officials time to "deal with the emergency at hand."
"Hemphill County is still on fire,” Johnson told Canadian Record. “We don’t need more people. While we appreciate their kindness and generosity, we need them to hold off coming to Canadian."
Donations are being accepted at Hemphill County Exhibition Center, located at 10865 Exhibition Center Rd., Canadian, TX; however, the county is asking the public to hold off on water donations.
Food is available for those impacted, and firefighters at the First Baptist Church and the Canadian Volunteer Fire Department, where the Canadian Record is reporting several food trucks are providing both lunch and supper.
Hutchinson County officials say no active evacuations are in place | 11:59 a.m.
In a Facebook live, a spokesperson for the City of Borger and Hutchinson County's Office of Emergency Management said that there are no active evacuation orders in place for the county.
Currently, the Smokehouse Creek Fire — at 3% containment — and the Windy Deuce Fire — at 50% containment — are active fires within the county.
West Texas fires causing power outages in panhandle region | 11:40 a.m.
As of 11:40 a.m, Xcel's outage map shows 54 outage orders affecting 766 customers.
North Plains Electric Cooperative Inc. stated that it's accessing damage throughout the day on Thursday, reporting that much of Hemphill County remains without power.
The cooperation plans to start rebuilding the 115 miles of line lost in the fire on Friday, starting with Deaf Smith Electric Company, Lamb Co. EC, Lighthouse EC, Lyntegar EC, Swisher EC and Tri-Co. EC. It plans to have the majority of the power to be restored by Monday, March 4.
Largest wildfires in U.S. history: Where does the 2024 Texas fire rank?
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, the Smokehouse Creek Fire is now the second-largest fire in U.S. history.
More: These are largest, deadliest and most destructive wildfires in Texas, US history
The largest fire in U.S. history was the 1825 Miramichi Fire, which was a total of 3 million acres.
Texas panhandle sees rain, snow on Thursday. How's it impacting the fires?
Canadian and Borger, along with Amarillo and surrounding cities in the Texas panhandle, will see a chance of rain and snow throughout the day Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
More: As Panhandle faces largest fire in Texas history, there's potential for more this weekend
However, during a news conference in Amarillo yesterday, a spokesperson from NWS Amarillo stated that the rain/snow mix will only be tenths of an inch and won't provide much relief to the firefighting efforts.
Red Cross to offer aid in Borger and Canadian | 10:00 a.m
The Red Cross will operate two disaster centers on Thursday and Friday for two of the impacted cities.
A center will open on Thursday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Canadian at Hemphill County Library at 500 E. Main St.
On Friday, March 1, the Red Cross will open a center at Fairlanes Baptist Church — located at 3000 Fairlanes Blvd. — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Smokehouse Creek Fire becomes largest fire is Texas History | 9:16 a.m.
The Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer updated the total acres of Smokehouse Creek Fire to 1,075,000, noting that the 687 Reamer Fire spread and connected with this fire. The fire remains only 3% contained.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire now surpasses what was the largest fire in Texas History from 2006 — the East Amarillo Complex Fire — that consumed over 907,245 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
How big is the Smokehouse Creek Fire today? | 8:37 a.m.
The Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer is reporting the fire remains at 850,000 acres with 3% contained.
Here are the updates for the other fires:
Windy Deuce Fire — 142,000 acres with 30% contained
Grapevine Creek Fire— 30,000 with 60% contained
Magenta Fire — 2,500 with 65% contained
687 Reamer — 2,000 with 10% contained
Officials confirm one dead in Texas fire
USA Today confirmed through officials the death of Joyce Blankenship, an 83-year-old former substitute teacher in Hutchinson County. According to the article, Blankenship's remains were found in her burned house
Her grandson, Lee Quesada, said he had posted in a community forum asking if anyone could try to locate her, according to the article. Quesada said deputies told his uncle on Wednesday they had found Blankenship’s remains in her burned home.
Texas Wildfire map: Where are the fires currently?
Comparison: The Smokehouse Creek Fire is so big it could cover Los Angeles
Biggest wildfires in Texas history
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the East Amarillo Complex Fire in the Texas Panhandle was the largest fire. The fire started on March 3, 2006, and consumed over 907,245 acres.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire is currently the second-largest fire in Texas history. It surpassed the 1988 fire named the Big Country Fire, which scorched 366,000 acres.
See Texas Panhandle wildfire photos
Below are galleries containing images of the damage and spread of the Texas wildfires.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Texas wildfire live updates: Map of current fires, confirmed deaths