Texas: Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration over devastating wildfires

The fire forced the shutdown of the Pantex nuclear weapons factory, which was finally able to resume operations.

Incendios en Texas. 28 de febrero de 2024. — (AMARILLO FIRE DEPARTMENT / AFP)

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28 de febrero, 2024

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The devastating fires recorded in the forest areas of Texas caused the evacuation of thousands of residents, bringing practically all industrial and commercial activity to a halt. The flames devastated around 400,000 acres in the north near the city of Amarillo, and in the east of the state near the border with Louisiana and Arkansas.

The largest wildfire so far is the Smokehouse Creek fire, located in Hutchinson County and burning more than 300,000 acres, according to the latest report from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Emergency services are working hard on five other recorded fires: Mills Creek (Fannin County), Grape Vine Creek (Gray County), 687 Reamer (Hutchinson County), Windy Deuce (Moore County) and Magenta (Oldham County). The authorities are also acting on another 25 smaller active fires, most of them located in the east.

In Hutchinson County, the hardest hit so far, water and electricity were cut off. At dawn this Wednesday, more than 13,000 residents did not have electricity, according to the website PowerOutage.us.

Disaster declaration

Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties and assured that he will deploy all necessary resources to extinguish the flames with the goal of keeping residents and their properties safe:

The weather conditions are not helping authorities put out the fires. Abbott acknowledged that the dry weather and high temperatures that will be recorded in the coming days are an impediment to fighting the flames more effectively, so he asked citizens not to use tools that generate fire. He also thanked the emergency services for their work:

Hot and dry conditions caused by high temperatures and windy conditions are expected to continue in the region in the coming days. These conditions could increase the potential for these wildfires to grow larger and more dangerous. Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe. I also want to thank the brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect their fellow Texans.

Industry halted in Texas

Many jobs have been put on hold until further notice in the areas affected by the fires. A sector that was especially compromised was the industrial sector. At first, the Pantex nuclear weapons factory, located near the city of Amarillo, was forced to close due to the fire, and all material was secured.

However, this Wednesday, Pantex was able to resume activity and asked its employees to return to their jobs.