Texas Panhandle Wildfires Burn Over 300,000 Acres and Force Emergency Evacuation Orders

Firefighters are working day and night to contain several dangerous wind-fueled Texas Panhandle wildfires. The largest blaze, the Smokehouse Creek grass fire, has forced widespread evacuations as it tears through Hemphill County about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the unrelenting flames have devoured at least 250,000 acres so far with zero per cent containment due to unrelenting high winds, raising the Texas wildfire risk even further.

Wildfire Evacuation Orders Issued

Hemphill County Emergency Management officials issued urgent evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon, with Sheriff Brent Clapp strongly advising all residents of Canadian to leave immediately.

As the raging wildfire forced road closures later that evening, Sheriff Clapp recommended Canadian residents shelter in place. The giant smoke plume could be seen from over 30 miles away outside of the Texas wildfires map.