At least one death and nearly half a million hectares devastated by fires in Texas

At least one person has died and nearly half a million hectares have been destroyed by 23 wildfires in Texas, including one that became the largest in US state history this Thursday, and a dozen more in neighboring Oklahoma.

The largest of the fires, dubbed Smokehouse Creek, had destroyed at least 345,200 hectares of forest and grassland, and firefighters had contained only 5% of the blaze as of Thursday morning, according to North American authorities.

Joyce Blankenship, an 83-year-old former teacher, was found dead in her burned home in Stinnett, Hutchinson County, 115 kilometers northeast of Amarillo, Texas, in the only death so far attributed to the fires.

The explosive growth of the Smokehouse Creek Fire slowed as snow fell and winds and temperatures cooled, but it remained unchecked and threatening Thursday.

The Texas A&M University Forest Service said at least 23 fires spread across the northern part of the state, burning nearly half a million acres. This region, known as the Panhandle, raises 85% of the state’s cattle.

The agency indicated favorable fire conditions will ease Friday, but the potential for fires in the Plains will increase Saturday and Sunday, when high winds are expected in West Texas.

Less than an inch of snow is expected, but moisture isn’t the only benefit, explained National Weather Service meteorologist Samuel Scoleri.

“This will help maintain low relative humidity throughout the day and will certainly help firefighters,” Scoleri said, as quoted by the Associated Press (AP).

The blaze has ravaged nearly 162,000 hectares in Hampshire County, with firefighters containing 30% of the Windy Deuce blaze, which has devastated 57,500 hectares.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who mobilized emergency response teams, said in a post on social media site X that flames had destroyed at least 13 homes in his state.

North Plains Electric Cooperative said it will have to restore about 180 kilometers of power lines damaged by the fire.

Authorities have not determined the exact cause of this week’s wildfires, but said above-normal temperatures for this time of year and winds gusting up to 95 kilometers per hour quickly spread the flames.