Latest news with #WindmillFire
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Longview firefighters helping battle fires across Texas
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) – Longview firefighters have been helping to put out fires all across Texas this past month. LIST: East Texas counties issue burn bans Members of the Longview Fire Department who were in Lubbock helping to extinguish the wildfires in West Texas have returned home while a new group has been sent to Amarillo to help put out the fires still burning near there. Longview firefighters returned from Lubbock on March, 11 after being dispatched to West Texas as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Longview also sent a crew to Amarillo on that same day to help put out the Windmill Fire in Perryton fire which has burned over 23,000 acres of land. The crew is currently positioned in Plainview and are expected to remain their for the next two weeks. 'The Longview Fire Department would like to thank the community for all the support and prayers that have been given to our crews at home and away fighting fires,' the department said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire outbreak 'likely' Tuesday across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma
AMARILLO, Texas - Extreme fire weather danger exists Tuesday afternoon for parts of New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma as winds once again pick up over a large swath of very dry land. The National Weather Service said that a "wildfire outbreak is likely" in warnings that were issued Tuesday morning. This comes after four people were killed in Oklahoma by a series of sweeping wildfires last week. Watch: Oklahoma Governor's Farm Home Destroyed In Deadly Wildfires Sustained winds of up to 30 mph are expected to pick up Tuesday afternoon, with gusts between 40 and 60 mph. Relative humidity is expected to drop into the single digits in some places. Any fires that ignite will have the potential to spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Temperatures across the region are forecast to reach the upper 70s to low 80s by this afternoon. How To Watch Fox Weather The wildfires near Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Friday damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes, according to the State's Office of Emergency Management. The farmhouse of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was among the buildings that were destroyed. The fires led to the deaths of four people and left more than 200 people injured, officials said. The Red Cross and the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief organizations are operating shelters for people who have lost their homes. What To Do If A Wildfire Prompts A Power Outage Several wildfires are still burning across parts of Texas, including the Windmill Fire which has scorched 23,000 acres in Roberts County in the panhandle part of the state. It is 95% contained. The winds are expected to die down Wednesday. However, with little moisture returning later in the week and another potential surface low developing in the central Plains, fire weather could again ramp up by Thursday and article source: Wildfire outbreak 'likely' Tuesday across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
20 million Americans in 8 states under red flag fire danger warnings
More than 20 million Americans in eight states were under red flag warnings Tuesday morning as severe winds and dry conditions have elevated the threat of fire danger. The alarming forecast comes in the wake of a deadly tornado outbreak over the weekend in the Midwest and South, and wind-whipped wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes in Oklahoma. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued red flag warnings for a large portion of Oklahoma -- including Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Wichita Falls. The NWS office in Norman, Oklahoma, said possible wind gusts of up to 45 mph combined with low relative humidity and dry conditions are producing "critical to extreme" fire danger in Oklahoma and North Texas. 'Hero' father dies while saving his young son in wildfire Extremely critical fire danger is also forecast Tuesday for the entire state of Kansas, parts of Arizona, a major portion of Missouri, eastern Colorado and West Texas, including the Texas Panhandle. Other major cities under red flag warnings on Tuesday are Denver; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; and the Texas cities of Austin, San Antonio and El Paso. The areas under red flag warnings are being warned that the conditions are rife for fires to spread rapidly, which makes them extremely hard to contain. Relative humidity across the alert areas is 15% to as low as 6%, and wind gusts are forecast to be between 40 and 75 mph. The critical fire danger comes just as people are beginning to recover from devastating wildfires in Oklahoma and a series of tornadoes. At least 42 people were killed amid more than 970 severe storm reports -- including tornadoes, severe storms, dust storms and fires -- across more than two dozen states over the weekend. A three-day tornado outbreak tore through at least nine states. Raging wildfires in Oklahoma over the weekend left four people dead and more than 140 others injured, according to the state's medical examiner. MORE: 2 young brothers among at least 42 deaths as tornadoes swept US The Oklahoma wildfires destroyed more than 400 homes and structures and burned at least 170,000 acres, prompting evacuations amid extreme fire weather conditions. Wildfires also raged in Texas over the weekend. The biggest blaze was the Windmill Fire that ignited in Roberts County and quickly spread to 21,000 acres, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. The fire was 95% contained on Monday. Parts of Gray County were temporarily under a mandatory evacuation due to the Rest Area Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. The fire has burned an estimated 3,000 acres and was 30% contained as of Friday evening, according to the forest service. ABC News' Kenton Gewecke contributed to this report. 20 million Americans in 8 states under red flag fire danger warnings originally appeared on
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
20 million Americans in 8 states under red flag fire danger warnings
More than 20 million Americans in eight states were under red flag warnings Tuesday morning as severe winds and dry conditions have elevated the threat of fire danger. The alarming forecast comes in the wake of a deadly tornado outbreak over the weekend in the Midwest and South, and wind-whipped wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes in Oklahoma. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued red flag warnings for a large portion of Oklahoma -- including Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Wichita Falls. The NWS office in Norman, Oklahoma, said possible wind gusts of up to 45 mph combined with low relative humidity and dry conditions are producing "critical to extreme" fire danger in Oklahoma and North Texas. 'Hero' father dies while saving his young son in wildfire Extremely critical fire danger is also forecast Tuesday for the entire state of Kansas, parts of Arizona, a major portion of Missouri, eastern Colorado and West Texas, including the Texas Panhandle. Other major cities under red flag warnings on Tuesday are Denver; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; and the Texas cities of Austin, San Antonio and El Paso. The areas under red flag warnings are being warned that the conditions are rife for fires to spread rapidly, which makes them extremely hard to contain. Relative humidity across the alert areas is 15% to as low as 6%, and wind gusts are forecast to be between 40 and 75 mph. The critical fire danger comes just as people are beginning to recover from devastating wildfires in Oklahoma and a series of tornadoes. At least 42 people were killed amid more than 970 severe storm reports -- including tornadoes, severe storms, dust storms and fires -- across more than two dozen states over the weekend. A three-day tornado outbreak tore through at least nine states. Raging wildfires in Oklahoma over the weekend left four people dead and more than 140 others injured, according to the state's medical examiner. MORE: 2 young brothers among at least 42 deaths as tornadoes swept US The Oklahoma wildfires destroyed more than 400 homes and structures and burned at least 170,000 acres, prompting evacuations amid extreme fire weather conditions. Wildfires also raged in Texas over the weekend. The biggest blaze was the Windmill Fire that ignited in Roberts County and quickly spread to 21,000 acres, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. The fire was 95% contained on Monday. Parts of Gray County were temporarily under a mandatory evacuation due to the Rest Area Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. The fire has burned an estimated 3,000 acres and was 30% contained as of Friday evening, according to the forest service. ABC News' Kenton Gewecke contributed to this report. 20 million Americans in 8 states under red flag fire danger warnings originally appeared on
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Wildfires, including one near Fredericksburg, rage through thousands of acres across Texas
Wildfires, including one near Fredericksburg, rage through thousands of acres across Texas Windy and dry weather conditions have sparked several wildfires throughout the state of Texas. Show Caption Hide Caption Smoke and dust fill the sky in Oklahoma An incredible amount of fires erupted amid strong winds in Oklahoma on March 14, 2025. Accuweather As high winds blow through the South this weekend, thousands of acres of wildfires are raging in Texas. An outbreak of wildfires began in Texas on Friday as winds exceeded 30 miles per hour and dry land provided the ideal fuel. As of 6:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, 10 wildfires remained uncontained throughout north, east, central and south Texas, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer. Two of the most notable wildfires are the Crabapple Fire and the Windmill Fire. The Crabapple Fire, the wildfire near Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, has burned 8,640 acres and is 0% contained, as of 6:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer. The fire with the largest footprint is the Windmill Fire in Roberts County, which is about 83 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas. The fire had raged through more than 23,000 acres and was 65% contained, as of 6:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer. In an effort to contain the Windmill Fire, a Texas A&M Forest Service Large Airtanker dropped bright red retardant over Roberts County on Saturday afternoon. As officials continue to work through the night, here's what to know about the other Texas wildfires. USA TODAY wildfire, smoke map: Track latest wildfires, red flag warnings across the US Nine more fires burn through Texas According to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer, as of 6: 30 p.m. CST on Saturday, the wildfires in Texas were: Rest Area Fire in Gray County: Burned 7,931 acres and 50% contained in Gray County: Burned 7,931 acres and 50% contained Cottonwood Creek Fire in San Saba County: Burned 633.2 acres and 95% contained in San Saba County: Burned 633.2 acres and 95% contained Lake Pasture Fire in Refugio County: Burned 300 acres and 50% contained in Refugio County: Burned 300 acres and 50% contained Duval Fire in Duval County: Burned 57.4 acres and 50% contained in Duval County: Burned 57.4 acres and 50% contained Real Fire in Real County: Burned 40 acres and 0% contained in Real County: Burned 40 acres and 0% contained Saddle Fire in Bandera County: Burned 17 acres and 95% contained in Bandera County: Burned 17 acres and 95% contained Upshur Fire in Upshur County: Burned 15 acres and 60% contained in Upshur County: Burned 15 acres and 60% contained Hargill Reservoir Fire in Hidalgo County: Burned 13 acres and 95% contained Burn bans issued in 130 counties On Saturday afternoon, outdoor burn bans were issued in 130 Texas counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Burn bans, which prohibit outdoor burning due to warm and dry weather conditions, are issued by county judges and commissioners courts. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
