In a year that saw record-shattering weather events, Texas experienced the largest wildfire in our state history. Kristin Yates looks back at the Smokehouse Creek Fire that devastated the Panhandle and what we've learned about wildfires this year.
The blaze left over one million scorched acres in its wake...starting Feb 29 in Hutchinson County, northeast of Amarillo. It stretched east to cover much of Roberts and Hemphill Counties, even reaching partially into Oklahoma. It took three weeks to bring this historic fire under control. At least two people lost their lives. More heavy losses were sustained in the form of land, livestock and crops. Investigators ruled the blaze was ultimately caused by a broken utility pole, that when it was downed, sparked flames in the dry grass.
Even setting the Smokehouse Creek fire aside for a moment, our state experienced the most active wildfire season in history. This year, reports indicate that wildfires burned over one million 200 thousand acres in Texas. With the size that the Smokehouse Creek Fire reached, that certainly tracks. People who were in the path of wildfires this year can remember the overwhelming scenes.
Several conditions brought this wildfire season to its historic proportions. Heat was one of them, a big factor for the fires we saw this summer. In the case of the Smokehouse Creek Fire, dry air and high winds caused the vegetation to dry up...creating the perfect tinder. Heather Gonzales says it reached the point where even the smallest spark from the most routine home chores could have led to something terrible.
This historic fire, and the many others seen in Texas this year, have led to some changes in preparedness from maybe an unexpected quarter, maintenance workers. Ian McClaine owns a North Texas landscaping company. He says with wildfires's effects on the land, and the ease with which it can start from a simple project, handymen are now packing basic fire suppression materials in their toolkits.
Wildfire risk in Texas historically peaks twice a year: in the summer's heat and typical drought. In the winter's typical cold fronts with that dry air and wind. That means fire departments across our state may soon be suiting up once again.
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