Latest news with #MarkKeough
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas wildfire prompts evacuations as Arkansas and Florida also battle blazes
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Wildfires fueled by dry conditions and gusting winds burned in a few Southern states Thursday, forcing evacuations in Texas and prompting Florida officials to close part of a major highway with spring break in high gear. A wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest near Houston prompted the evacuation of about 900 homes and closed schools. The National Weather Service issued elevated fire warnings around the nation's fourth-largest city. The fire, which started Wednesday, had burned about 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) and was only about 10% contained Thursday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage, but the Cleveland Independent School District, which has about 12,000 students, canceled classes as a precaution. Firefighters and law enforcement 'did an such unbelievable job yesterday in protecting homes, animals, livestock and people. We've lost basically nothing, which is hard to believe,' the county's top elected official, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, said. However, he said, expected wind gusts Thursday along with a drop in humidity could make the situation disastrous. "We're asking the people who evacuated last night to stay still away from their homes,' Keough said. Florida fires In the Florida Keys, a large brush fire that began Tuesday caused authorities to close one of the two roads leading in and out of the island chain, and intermittently shut down U.S. 1 so fire crews could move equipment. Spring break is in full swing in Florida, and U.S. 1 is the major thoroughfare that connects the mainland to the islands. It is also a heavily traveled road for people who live on the mainland and work at many of the hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond. Arkansas blazes In Arkansas, crews responded to more than 50 fires Wednesday that were fueled by high winds. The fires closed several highways, including a portion of Interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock due to heavy smoke. Flames damaged structures in several cities, including Little Rock. The roof collapsed at St. Joseph's, a 115-year-old building in North Little Rock that once served as an orphanage and is now the home of a nonprofit that provides urban farming resources. What's causing the fires? The South has experienced recent cold and dry conditions, followed by gusting winds, that have fanned the flames. Texas has seen fire hazards range from the far northern Panhandle, where ground vegetation froze and dried out, and push hundreds of miles east to the coast. South Florida has seen every little rainfall over the past few weeks. The rainy season doesn't start until sometime around mid-May. Another cold front with dry air is expected to push through South Florida on Thursday night, said meteorologist Donal Harrigan with the National Weather Service in Miami. Red Flag warnings The weather service issued Red Flag warnings for fire conditions in east Texas and South Florida and could extend them for several days. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ripe for fires. In southeast Texas, weather service officials predicted wind gusts of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour), combined with humidity as low as 18%. That combination will continue to dry out vegetation. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Texas wildfire prompts evacuations as Arkansas and Florida also battle blazes
Wildfires fueled by dry conditions and gusting winds burned in a few Southern states Thursday, forcing evacuations in Texas and prompting Florida officials to close part of a major highway with spring break in high gear. A wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest near Houston prompted the evacuation of about 900 homes and closed schools. The National Weather Service issued elevated fire warnings around the nation's fourth-largest city. The fire, which started Wednesday, had burned about 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) and was only about 10% contained Thursday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage, but the Cleveland Independent School District, which has about 12,000 students, canceled classes as a precaution. Firefighters and law enforcement 'did an such unbelievable job yesterday in protecting homes, animals, livestock and people. We've lost basically nothing, which is hard to believe,' the county's top elected official, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, said. However, he said, expected wind gusts Thursday along with a drop in humidity could make the situation disastrous. "We're asking the people who evacuated last night to stay still away from their homes,' Keough said. Florida fires In the Florida Keys, a large brush fire that began Tuesday caused authorities to close one of the two roads leading in and out of the island chain, and intermittently shut down U.S. 1 so fire crews could move equipment. Spring break is in full swing in Florida, and U.S. 1 is the major thoroughfare that connects the mainland to the islands. It is also a heavily traveled road for people who live on the mainland and work at many of the hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond. Arkansas blazes In Arkansas, crews responded to more than 50 fires Wednesday that were fueled by high winds. The fires closed several highways, including a portion of Interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock due to heavy smoke. Flames damaged structures in several cities, including Little Rock. The roof collapsed at St. Joseph's, a 115-year-old building in North Little Rock that once served as an orphanage and is now the home of a nonprofit that provides urban farming resources. What's causing the fires? The South has experienced recent cold and dry conditions, followed by gusting winds, that have fanned the flames. Texas has seen fire hazards range from the far northern Panhandle, where ground vegetation froze and dried out, and push hundreds of miles east to the coast. South Florida has seen every little rainfall over the past few weeks. The rainy season doesn't start until sometime around mid-May. Another cold front with dry air is expected to push through South Florida on Thursday night, said meteorologist Donal Harrigan with the National Weather Service in Miami. Red Flag warnings The weather service issued Red Flag warnings for fire conditions in east Texas and South Florida and could extend them for several days. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ripe for fires. In southeast Texas, weather service officials predicted wind gusts of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour), combined with humidity as low as 18%. That combination will continue to dry out vegetation. ___
Associated Press
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Texas wildfire prompts evacuations as Arkansas and Florida also battle blazes
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Wildfires fueled by dry conditions and gusting winds burned in a few Southern states Thursday, forcing evacuations in Texas and prompting Florida officials to close part of a major highway with spring break in high gear. A wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest near Houston prompted the evacuation of about 900 homes and closed schools. The National Weather Service issued elevated fire warnings around the nation's fourth-largest city. The fire, which started Wednesday, had burned about 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) and was only about 10% contained Thursday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage, but the Cleveland Independent School District, which has about 12,000 students, canceled classes as a precaution. Firefighters and law enforcement 'did an such unbelievable job yesterday in protecting homes, animals, livestock and people. We've lost basically nothing, which is hard to believe,' the county's top elected official, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, said. However, he said, expected wind gusts Thursday along with a drop in humidity could make the situation disastrous. 'We're asking the people who evacuated last night to stay still away from their homes,' Keough said. Florida fires In the Florida Keys, a large brush fire that began Tuesday caused authorities to close one of the two roads leading in and out of the island chain, and intermittently shut down U.S. 1 so fire crews could move equipment. Spring break is in full swing in Florida, and U.S. 1 is the major thoroughfare that connects the mainland to the islands. It is also a heavily traveled road for people who live on the mainland and work at many of the hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond. Arkansas blazes In Arkansas, crews responded to more than 50 fires Wednesday that were fueled by high winds. The fires closed several highways, including a portion of Interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock due to heavy smoke. Flames damaged structures in several cities, including Little Rock. The roof collapsed at St. Joseph's, a 115-year-old building in North Little Rock that once served as an orphanage and is now the home of a nonprofit that provides urban farming resources. What's causing the fires? The South has experienced recent cold and dry conditions, followed by gusting winds, that have fanned the flames. Texas has seen fire hazards range from the far northern Panhandle, where ground vegetation froze and dried out, and push hundreds of miles east to the coast. South Florida has seen every little rainfall over the past few weeks. The rainy season doesn't start until sometime around mid-May. Another cold front with dry air is expected to push through South Florida on Thursday night, said meteorologist Donal Harrigan with the National Weather Service in Miami. Red Flag warnings The weather service issued Red Flag warnings for fire conditions in east Texas and South Florida and could extend them for several days. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ripe for fires. In southeast Texas, weather service officials predicted wind gusts of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour), combined with humidity as low as 18%. That combination will continue to dry out vegetation. ___
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires erupt as strong winds continue to hit parts of the country
More than 24 million Americans are under wildfire warnings due to strong winds on Thursday, posing a threat to existing fires in several states, and as a powerful storm moves toward the Northeast. A wildfire was reported burning within the Sam Houston National Forested in San Jacinto County, Texas, on Wednesday evening. The fire, named the Pauline Road Fire, has grown to 2,000 acres with only 10% containment as of Thursday morning with the possibility of getting worse due to the strong winds, according to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough. "The weather today will not be on our side," Keough said in a statement. "We expect significant wind gusts today with low humidity and warmer temperatures. This will make fighting difficult." Mandatory evacuations that were issued in Montgomery and San Jacinto counties are still in place Thursday. Thick smoke engulfed roads near the flames, leaving drivers with minimal visibility. Thirty-eight fires have also been reported across Arkansas, with eight of those in the central region of the state. "Our crews are deployed across the state and are partnering with local fire departments, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service," the forestry division said Wednesday. MORE: Blizzard conditions and chances for severe storms expected in the Heartland Firefighters also responded to several fires in New Mexico on Wednesday, including the Gail Fire, which has burned 235 acres and is zero percent contained, officials said. Overnight, eight tornadoes were also reported in Illinois, with strong winds knocking down trees and damaging roofs in the southern suburbs of Chicago. In Indiana, crews cut down part of a massive tree that uprooted and fell into a home due to the heavy gusts. On Thursday, a critical risk for fire danger is in place for southeast Colorado, northeast New Mexico, the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma and southeast Kansas, where wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected, accompanied with relative humidity between 8% and 15%. In southwest Texas, southern and central Louisiana and the coast of Mississippi are expected to face 30 mph wind gusts and relative humidity as low as 30%. Power remains out for 50,000 customers in Nebraska this morning, along with 10,000 in Arkansas, 7,000 in Indiana and 24,000 in Michigan, according to officials. Meanwhile, snow is expected to fall over Chicago and areas of Michigan on Thursday, with rain arriving to the East Coast during the evening Thursday and overnight Friday. ABC News' Ginger Zee contributed to this report. Wildfires erupt as strong winds continue to hit parts of the country originally appeared on
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires erupt as strong winds continue to hit parts of the country
More than 24 million Americans are under wildfire warnings due to strong winds on Thursday, posing a threat to existing fires in several states, and as a powerful storm moves toward the Northeast. A wildfire was reported burning within the Sam Houston National Forested in San Jacinto County, Texas, on Wednesday evening. The fire, named the Pauline Road Fire, has grown to 2,000 acres with only 10% containment as of Thursday morning with the possibility of getting worse due to the strong winds, according to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough. "The weather today will not be on our side," Keough said in a statement. "We expect significant wind gusts today with low humidity and warmer temperatures. This will make fighting difficult." Mandatory evacuations that were issued in Montgomery and San Jacinto counties are still in place Thursday. Thick smoke engulfed roads near the flames, leaving drivers with minimal visibility. Thirty-eight fires have also been reported across Arkansas, with eight of those in the central region of the state. "Our crews are deployed across the state and are partnering with local fire departments, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service," the forestry division said Wednesday. MORE: Blizzard conditions and chances for severe storms expected in the Heartland Firefighters also responded to several fires in New Mexico on Wednesday, including the Gail Fire, which has burned 235 acres and is zero percent contained, officials said. Overnight, eight tornadoes were also reported in Illinois, with strong winds knocking down trees and damaging roofs in the southern suburbs of Chicago. In Indiana, crews cut down part of a massive tree that uprooted and fell into a home due to the heavy gusts. On Thursday, a critical risk for fire danger is in place for southeast Colorado, northeast New Mexico, the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma and southeast Kansas, where wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected, accompanied with relative humidity between 8% and 15%. In southwest Texas, southern and central Louisiana and the coast of Mississippi are expected to face 30 mph wind gusts and relative humidity as low as 30%. Power remains out for 50,000 customers in Nebraska this morning, along with 10,000 in Arkansas, 7,000 in Indiana and 24,000 in Michigan, according to officials. Meanwhile, snow is expected to fall over Chicago and areas of Michigan on Thursday, with rain arriving to the East Coast during the evening Thursday and overnight Friday. ABC News' Ginger Zee contributed to this report. Wildfires erupt as strong winds continue to hit parts of the country originally appeared on
