“The fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.” – Joel 1:19
“All the nations that forget God shall be turned into Hell.” – Psalm 9:17
FOXWeather reports: A massive wildfire that has exploded to more than 1 million acres of land in just four days in the Texas Panhandle has now become the largest wildfire in state history as firefighters continue their desperate attempts to contain the blaze.
Crews working to extinguish the Smokehouse Creek Fire, as well as others across the region, were hoping to get a brief – and rather bizarre – wintry assist from the weather on Thursday as a blanket of snow fell across the area.
A weak area of low pressure swinging through the Texas wildfire zones dumped some beneficial snow on Thursday amid freezing temperatures. As of late Thursday morning, the National Weather Service reported 2.5 inches of snow fell about 3 miles to the north of Amarillo.
It’s a welcome relief from the hot, dry and windy conditions that led to the explosive development of several wildfires burning through dry vegetation.
“Rain is helpful, but when it comes to fire, snow is perfect,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “Think about taking a fire extinguisher to snuff out a fire – this is the same effect. It dampens (the area) and that can really tap out a fire.”
Unfortunately, the storm system will have no effect on the expansive fires except to keep humidity elevated for a day.
Five major wildfires in the Texas Panhandle have consumed over 1.25 million acres, prompting evacuations, road closures and emergency declarations. The largest fire burning remains the Smokehouse Creek Fire north of Stinnett, with only 3% containment.
On Wednesday, the fire exploded in size, growing from 300,000 acres to 850,000 as it raced east, making it the second-largest wildfire in Texas history. The fire then grew in size by another 225,000 acres on Thursday, making it the largest fire in the state’s history.
“The fire is 185 miles wide,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan said. “That’s nearly twice the size of Delaware.”
And while the Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned 1.075 million acres in total, some of that acreage has burned across the state line in Oklahoma.
There have been 1.05 million acres scorched in Texas and 25,000 in Oklahoma. In addition, officials said an adjacent fire, the 687 Reamer Fire, has burned into the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
Fire officials lifted the evacuation order for the town of Canadian on Wednesday but warned there is still “moderate” potential for fire growth.
“Ground crews are moving along the fire with heavy machinery, but the rough terrain is causing slow progress,” according to a recent update from Texas A&M Forest Service. More firefighting resources are arriving on Thursday.
Farther west, the Windy Deuce Fire has burned 142,000 acres across Moore, Potter and Carson counties, leading to the evacuation of several communities. The fire has consumed half the town of Fritch.
“Well, our house is still standing,” homeowner Lee Quesada said during a video tour of his scorched neighborhood. “But then, if you look over on the other side of that tree, which is on fire, two structures, neighbors, two houses down across the street on fire.”
And to the south and east of the massive Smokehouse Creek Fire, the Grape Vine Creek Fire is 60% contained after burning 30,000 acres.
The fires are not only sending residents scrambling for safety but also sending thick plumes of smoke across the Texas Panhandle and into the Plains.
Wind forecasts show that smoke will push north across the Oklahoma Panhandle through Kansas and Nebraska into Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
The fire spread into the town of Canadian, Texas, on Tuesday, where flames burned through an automated weather station Tuesday afternoon.
According to the West Texas Mesonet, which operates the station, a temperature as high as 126 degrees was recorded at the site before it was destroyed.
Operations at a nuclear weapons facility outside of Amarillo were halted after flames got dangerously close to the property. Late Tuesday, Pantex said all the facility’s employees were accounted for, and firefighters were in structure protection mode, but the property remains secure.
Just as quickly as the weather shifted to help the firefight, it will shift back to potentially hamper it.
Temperatures on Friday will warm back into the 70s with breezy winds gusting to 45-50 mph or higher. In addition, relative humidity levels will plunge below 20% and could reach as low as 10%… (Continue reading)
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“I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.” – Jeremiah 21:14
“The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” – Isaiah 24:5-6
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