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Mar. 5, 2024 by Krissa Welshans, Livestock Editor, Farm Progress Texas A&M Forest Service Blue Team Operations Section Chief Mike Brod said in a Monday morning update that crews had another "really good, productive day" on the fire line Sunday as they continued to control and mop up the fire perimeters of several Texas Panhandle wildfires. In addition to the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which last week became the largest wildfire in the state's history and the second-largest wildfire in the nation's history, 56 wildfires have burned more than 1.26 million acres in the state since Feb. 25. Brod said there were a couple of flare ups in the Smokehouse Creek Fire on Sunday and a new fire that burned 300 acres started between the Windy Deuce Fire and Smokehouse Creek Fire, but "really good work was accomplished, forward progress was stopped, and our crews staffed that fire throughout the night to make sure it stayed within its containment boundaries." On Monday, crews were continuing to mop up and patrol the fire perimeters of several fires, Brod said. "We hope to have an aerial recon where we can get some of our operational folks in the air to take a look. It's a very large fire perimeter, particularly on the Smokehouse [Creek Fire], so we're going to utilize the aviation to get some eyes in the sky and continue our suppression efforts." Although the fire is still only 15% contained, expansion of acres burned in Smokehouse Creek Fire slowed over the weekend, increasing from 1.075 million acres to 1.077 million acres burned. Loss and damage catastrophic Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service said homes and other property have been destroyed and many more have sustained smoke damage. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller reported Friday that cattle and crop losses in the Panhandle are significant and infrastructure damage is "catastrophic." Even those Texans fortunate enough to save their herd may not have anything to return to but ashes, he said. Hemphill County alone has reported over a thousand missing or dead cattle and several dead horses, goats, and sheep. Numbers in Hemphill County and other impacted areas are expected to rise as the smoldering fire subsides and assessment can be conducted," Miller noted. "I pledge my ongoing support for our neighbors who have a long road ahead to recovery from this disaster," Commissioner Miller said. "I know of ranchers who have lost everything. Our agency will continue its efforts to do everything we can through our STAR Fund, AgriStress Helpline, Hay Hotline, and by partnering with other agencies to lend a helping hand." Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service said that the number one need for livestock owners affected by the wildfires is fencing supplies, closely followed by hay. More information on how to help recovery efforts is here. Tweet |
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