Wildfires burning across the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico have scorched more than 18 000 ha (44 500 acres) since May 14, prompting evacuations near Amarillo and along the New Mexico–Texas border
Wildfires burning across the Texas Panhandle and West Texas prompted Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to declare an Agricultural Emergency on February 18, 2026, while Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate additional state wildfire response resources ahead of elevated-to-critical fire weather conditions across South, West, and Northwest Texas. Extremely critical fire danger continues across portions of the state as dry fuels and periodic wind gusts persist.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and thousands of acres burned as wildfires continue to spread across Oklahoma and Texas on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Emergency officials have issued new evacuation orders in Oklahoma’s Logan and Pawnee counties, while Texas remains under a widespread burn ban with several large fires still active.
On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire expanded beyond 404 686 ha (1 million acres) in Texas, marking it as the largest wildfire in the state’s history. The blaze, which also extended into Oklahoma, has claimed the lives of at least two individuals and continues to pose a significant threat to homes, cattle, and livelihoods in the Texas Panhandle.
This aerial view shows burned houses and structures across Fritch, Texas caused by the Windy Duece Fire on February 28, 2024. More than 100 homes were destroyed from Fritch to Borger, Texas.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday, February 26, 2024, in Hutchinson County, Texas, amidst adverse weather conditions, and has rapidly grown over the next 2 days to the second-largest wildfire in the state’s history. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in 60 counties in response to the wildfire, which has only been 3% contained.
A series of out-of-control wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle on February 27 and 28, 2024, prompting tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, causing widespread power outages, and forcing the temporary shutdown of the Pantex Plant, a critical nuclear weapons facility. The disaster, affecting numerous homes and prompting a disaster declaration in 60 counties, saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly grow to Texas’ 2nd largest wildfire in history.
A wildfire that started on the King Ranch in Brooks County, Texas, has burned around 5 800 ha (14 300 acres) of land as of Thursday, March 18, 2021, before being contained, according to the Texas Forest Service. The fire — named King Fire — began at the King…
A fast-moving Rankin Ranch Road Fire is burning in the far northeastern Texas panhandle since 14:30 local time on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Texas A&M Forest Service said Friday afternoon the fire is 50% contained. The fire burned 40 000 acres (16 200 hectares)…
Dry and hot weather conditions which have been prevailing across the US Plains for a few months, have combined with strong winds and record October heat to trigger strong wildfires over the last couple of days. In response to the situation, Texas Governor Greg…
