Due to massive wildfire in Texas, people had to be evacuated, disaster declared in 60 counties

A fast-growing wildfire in Texas doubled in size on Tuesday, prompting officials to order immediate evacuations in at least one small town as strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures fueled the blaze in rural areas of the state. .

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties as a massive fire burned more than 780 square kilometers, more than doubling its size since it broke out on Monday. The Texas A&M Forest Service did not say what caused the fires to spread to these sparsely populated counties, which fall within the Texas Panhandle region.

The northernmost region of Texas is called the Panhandle. This area is straight and narrow like the handle of a pan and the broad area of ​​the state below it is like the bottom of a pan, as stated Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

“Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep loved ones safe,” Abbott said.

The largest blaze, known as the Smokehouse Creek Fire, closed highways and was 0% contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Forest Service.

Multiple fires were reported in Hemphill and Hutchinson counties near the Oklahoma border. Texas state Senator Kevin Sparks said evacuation orders had been issued for the town of Canadian, population about 2,000, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo, and other areas.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings and fire danger warnings for several other states in the central part of the country, as winds of more than 40 mph (64 kph) bring hot temperatures, low humidity and This, combined with dry winter vegetation, creates the conditions. For forest fire.

In central Nebraska, a lawnmower caught fire in a haystack, burning a swath of grassland the size of Omaha, the state’s largest city, state officials said Tuesday.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)