One woman has died in what has been described as second-largest wildfire in Texas history.
The fire has ravaged the Texas Panhandle and, in addition to killing an elderly woman, has destroyed homes, acreage and cattle in its wake, according to CNN.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned its way through about 900,000 acres in Texas and Oklahoma. This area is larger than the state of Rhode Island, according to the outlet.
Joyce Blankenship, 83, died in Hutchinson County, Texas.
“The house was gone,” her grandson, Nathan Blankenship, told CNN. “There was no way she could’ve gotten out.”
The wildfire that killed Blankenship is one of five officials are dealing with. As CNN reports, weather is not on their side as there is a low chance of precipitation and hardy winds to fight.
The wildfire started Monday afternoon and has burned 850,000 acres to date.
“Only 3% of the Smokehose Creek Fire has been contained, and it has also spread to Oklahoma burning more than 30,000 acres of land there,” CNN reported.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire increased from 500,000 acres to 850,000 acres Wednesday due to a shift in the wind, CNN reported.
“Wind was coming straight out of the north and made just this massive wall of fire moving across the landscape,” Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Adam Turner told the outlet Wednesday.
Power outages are a main concern as North Plains Electric Cooperative is set to rebuild about 115 miles of line, the outlet reported.
Endangered cattle is also a concern.
“In Hemphill County alone, 400,000 acres are burned, scores of homes have been destroyed and thousands of cattle have died, Hemphill County AgriLife Extension agent Andy Holloway said. More than 85% of cattle in Texas are raised in the Panhandle, according to agricultural officials,” CNN reported.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday added state resources to fight the blazes. This includes 94 firefighting personnel, 33 fire engines and six air tankers, CNN reported.
CNN spoke with a town of Fritch resident who helped his elderly neighbors before getting out himself.
“Our main concern was getting them out first. We were the last ones out,” Probst told CNN.
“It happened so quick. By the time the evacuation sirens went off, it was too late,” he said of grabbing any belongings. “We just jumped in the car and took off.”
