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May 2011 Wildfire News

May 31, 2011

Fireworks to be banned Due to Wildfire Conditions

Those expecting to see fireworks this fourth of July might be disappointed and the sky most likely will be dark and quiet. As the drought index continues to rise and as more wildfires continue to burn, many feel they should legally ban all fireworks this July 4th. Currently there are no firework bans in Potter County. Officials are extremely worried that the dry conditions and the use of fireworks could lead to severe and deadly wildfire conditions. 

Both commissioners from Potter and Randall County believe that banning fireworks is necessary to avoid the potentially risk of wildfires. Officials in Potter County are schedule to vote on the banning of fireworks at their June 13 meeting.

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Record Heat and Strong Winds Fueled Wildfires Over Memorial Day Weekend

Wildfires driven by fierce winds destroyed at least eight homes and damaged many more as residents in Northwest Amarillo were forced to evacuate late Sunday. Wildfires erupted Sunday afternoon near Pitt Road in the Tangle Aire neighborhood South of Amarillo and in the Woodlands and Cliffside neighborhoods in Northwest Amarillo. The Wildfires burned more than 1,000 acres. Officials believe that the wildfire started after a car caught fire at Loop 335 and Ninth Avenue.


13 Homes Destroyed by Weekend Wildfires

Firefighters were still in the process of cleaning up the hot-spots and flare-ups all Monday and still were fighting the blazing hot temperatures as well as the wind. Wildfires the previous day destroyed 13 houses as homeowners begin to pick up the pieces. Wildfires erupted Sunday near Pitt Road and in the Woodlands and Cliffside neighborhoods in Northwest Amarillo. Officials said three people were injured two were treated for smoke inhalation and one for an eye injury. Red Cross officials say this is the worst wildfire season they have ever experienced having to respond to new wildfires every weekend.



Wildfire Burns Crawford Ranch

A wildfire sprung up around 6:15 Monday evening as the wildfire started near highway 287 between Amarillo and Dumas. The forest service said the wildfire has burned more than 2,200 acres and five miles into the Crawford Ranch.


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May 26, 2011

Amarillo Escapes Serious Wildfire Damage

Amarillo residents are breathing a sigh of relief as they were allowed to head home Wednesday evening. Firefighters from many local agencies stopped the massive wind driven wildfires from doing more damage. The wildfire was believed to have started on Loop 335 west of Western street around 2 p.m. Residents were extremely worried as these wildfires come only three months after the February 27, 2011 wildfires which destroyed 70 homes and caused over 13 million dollars in damage. 

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May 25, 2011

Wildfires Fueled By Wind Prompt Evacuations

Tuesday was a day of high temps, low humidity and high winds which lead to wildfires springing up all around the Panhandle. A wildfire burned 1,500 acres near Tulia according to Texas Forest Service officials. Another wildfire destroyed a vacant Hale County farmhouse Tuesday evening with Abernathy volunteer firefighters responding. Another small wildfire occurred near Plainview on Tuesday afternoon. The massive wildfire which threatened the Palo Duro Canyon state park started on the I-27. Large wildfires also burned in Deaf Smith and Dallam Counties.

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May 24, 2011

Officials Ask For Help to Fund Firefighters

The Texas state elected officials are asking Texans to contribute to a fund to help volunteer firefighters purchase much needed equipment in the wake of the devastating wildfire season. Officials acknowledge that most local volunteer fire agencies are running out of money and some are even using their own personal money to fill up trucks and buy equipment. This announcement comes on the wake of budget negotiations on a state spending plan which cuts funding to the Texas Forest service by one third over the next two years. According to the Texas Forest Service, the reduction will reduce money available for grants from $ 48.4 million to $ 15.8 million. The federal government recently denied Texas' request for federal disaster declaration made in response to the massive wildfires which burned 2.6 million acres. 

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Red Flag Warning Wildfire Danger Predicted

Critical wildfire warnings are being issued today for the greater Panhandle region as winds up to 30 mph along with humidity of 5% or less are expected. The Texas Forest Service say hot temps, dry air and strong winds make this one of the worst wildfire weather days we have ever seen. Officials say human interaction is a cause of most wildfires and officials urge extreme caution during these dangerous times.

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May 23, 2011

Ranchers Preparing For Dangerous Wildfire Day

Many ranchers along with various firefighting agencies are preparing for a dangerous wildfire day as dry winds, hot temps, and low humidity are preparing to sweep across West Texas. This is the same weather conditions as occurred on February 27, 2011 and lead to the massive wildfires which burned over 40,000 acres in Motley county and portions of Garza and Hockley counties. Ranchers are not taking any chances by digging fire guards on fields next to roads and in between pastures.

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Out of State Firefighter Leaving Texas

The federal and out of state firefighters who were in Texas helping fight the West Texas wildfires are now leaving the state. Wednesday the last of the federal team will hand command of the region's wildfire response back to the Texas Forest Service. This comes after all the region's major wildfires are contained leaving smaller fires to be handled by local firefighters.

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May 22, 2011

Wildfires Prompt Emergency Grazing Action

Due to the massive wildfires and the extensive drought Texas is experiencing has prompted the Farm Service Agency to allow grazing of Conservation Reserve Program land in 27 counties including some in the Panhandle. The action doesn't have anything to do with cutting grass for hay. Producers may use the acreage for their livestock or allow another producer to use the land. 


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May 17, 2011

Texas Wildfires Hurting Ranchers

Texas ranchers are being hit extremely hard with more than 2.5 million acres of grassland being burned in wildfires this year alone. Ranchers have said that 90% of this land is used for agriculture. The biggest impact is to fence lines where an estimated 400 miles of fence has been destroyed. It averages $ 5,000 to $ 15,000 per mile of fence to repair. Now with grazing land being charred many ranchers are trying to sell off cattle early and are losing money. One person estimates ranchers are losing $100 dollars per cow. 

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May 11, 2011

ATF Officials Exercise Sparks Wildfire

An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms official is rethinking a training exercise which sparked a wildfire in Northwestern Motley County on Tuesday. Many people are shocked that while there is a burn ban due to wildfire conditions, the ATF is doing training exercises which resulted in a wildfire. Officials said the fire started quickly and ran out of control due to the gusty winds. The wildfire only burned 150 acres and was put out in six hours but people realize it could have been a lot worse. 

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May 10, 2011

TFS Workshop Scheduled For Victims of Possum

 Kingdom Area Wildfires

The Texas Forest Service has scheduled a workshop for landowners in Young, Stephens and Palo Pinto Counties affected by the recent wildfires. The workshop is scheduled on May 19th and will focus on restoration of their properties after the devastating wildfire disaster. The Possum Kingdom Lake wildfire burned more than 126,000 acres before being contained on April 28, 2011.


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Texas Still Ripe With Dangerous Wildfire Conditions

The Texas Forest Service is predicting critical wildfire conditions from Wichita Falls to Abilene to San Angelo to Del Rio. Temperatures are predicted to be 10 to 20 degrees above normal with humidity levels falling to single digits. As of Sunday firefighter crews from more than 200 federal, state and local agencies were working on the 65000 acre Dickens County Complex wildfire. Economist say that between the drought and wildfires which Texas has experienced lately, thee agriculture industry will likely pile up losses into the billions of dollars

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May 03, 2011

Texas Forest Service Battling 6 Major Fires

According to the Texas Forest Service they are currently working on 6 major fires that span 673,985 acres. The major wildfires which are uncontained are the Rockhouse fire in Presidio and Jeff Davis Counties 313,323 acres burned 95 % contained, the Deaton Cole wildfires 175,000 acres burned 65% contained, Oasis wildfires in Kimble County 9,6000 acres burned 60% contained, Worthington wildfire in Crocker County 435 acres burned 95% contained, Pecan Creek Complex in Tom Green County 840 acres burned 95% contained, Pleasant Farms in Ector County 15,470 acres burned 95% contained and the Wildcat fire in Coke County 195,308 acres burned 98% contained.

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May 29, 2011

1,000 Acres Burn in Stinnett Wildfire

A wildfire near Stinnett is about 80% contained only a few hours after it was reported. The wildfire started around 2 p.m. and briefly threatened five structures. Officials are estimating the fire has burned around 1,000 acres but aren't speculating on what might have caused the wildfire.

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