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2024 Texas wildfires

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2024 Texas wildfires
Smokehouse Creek Fire
Impacts
Deaths2

The 2024 Texas wildfires were marked by several major fires, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas panhandle and part of Oklahoma.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire burned an estimated 1,058,482 acres (1,653.878 sq mi; 428,352 ha) in Texas and Oklahoma and was completely contained on March 16,[1] becoming the second largest fire in US history dating back to 1988. It started on Monday, February 26, one mile north of Stinnett in Hutchinson County, Texas.

Other fires include the Windy Deuce Fire, which also started on February 26. As of March 3, it has burned 144,206 acres (225.322 sq mi; 58,358 ha), including a portion of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and it is 100% contained.[2]

In addition, the Grape Vine Creek Fire started 9.5 miles south of Lefors in Gray County, Texas on the same day, burning an estimated 34,882 acres (54.503 sq mi; 14,116 ha) with 100% containment.[3][4][5][6]

List of wildfires

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The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
North CIG Moore 4,012 February 24 February 25 [7]
Smokehouse Creek Hemphill & Roberts 1,058,482 February 26 March 16 Two fatalities
Windy Deuce Potter, Carson, Moore, Hutchinson 144,206 February 26 March 3 [8]
Grape Vine Creek Gray 34,883 February 26 March 10 [9]
Juliet Pass Armstrong 2,963 February 26 February 27 [10]
Magenta Oldham 3,297 February 27 March 5 [11]
Mile Marker 32 Kenedy 1,424 April 19 April 24 [12]
Laguna 24 Kleberg 12,385 May 11 May 18 [13]
Hackberry Canyon Potter 1,088 May 14 May 25 [14]
Cattail 24 Kleberg 1,620 May 26 May 30 [15]
West AER Motor Cottle 1,761 July 31 August 2 [16]
Paint Crossing Throckmorton 2,263 August 7 August 12 [17]
Robertson Stephens 1,610 August 12 August 14 [18]
Creek 232 Throckmorton 1,241 August 13 August 14 [19]
Midway Pasture Wilbarger 1,147 August 15 August 16 [20]
Red Creek Haskell 2,778 August 16 August 17 [21]
Dirt Road King 1,524 August 16 August 20 [22]
Peter Switch Wichita 1,658 August 18 August 19 [23]
North Art Complex Mason 4,355 August 22 August 25 [24]

Aftermath

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At least two people died as a result of the fires[25] and at least 7,000 cattle have died.[26] Panhandle ranchers and farmers are seeking government assistance to recover from their losses.[27][28] Volunteer organizations are assisting in the recovery efforts.[27][29]

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the largest wildfire, with attention on a downed Xcel Energy Co. power line near Stinnett as a potential ignition source. Lawsuits have been filed against Xcel Energy for alleged negligence leading to the fires.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Smokehouse Creek Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Windy Deuce Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Wildfires and Disasters | Current Situation TFS". tfsweb.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  4. ^ "Texas wildfires, including second-largest on record, rage across Panhandle". Reuters.
  5. ^ "Grape Vine Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". USA Today. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Grape Vine Creek Fire". inciweb.nwcg.gov. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.[dead link]
  7. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  23. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  25. ^ Li Cohen. "Texas' largest-ever wildfire that killed at least 2 apparently ignited by power company facilities, company says". CBS News, March 7, 2024.
  26. ^ Brandi D. Addison. "At least 7,000 cows have died in historic Texas wildfires, official says". Amarillo Globe-News, March 11, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Rubin, Madaleine; McGee, Kate; Lozano Carver, Jayme (March 1, 2024). "New Panhandle wildfire emerges, forcing evacuation of tiny town of Sanford". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Texas Panhandle wildfires: What you need to know about the blazes, damage and recovery". The Texas Tribune. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Nick Oxford; Rich Mckay (February 29, 2024). "Texas wildfires, including second-largest on record, rage across Panhandle". Reuters.