Texas Prepares For Threats Of New Wildfire As Dry Conditions And Storm System Is Expected In The Coming Weeks

Texas authorities are preparing to fight yet another round of wildfires as the state sees hazardous fire conditions in the coming weeks.

Risk Of Another Round Of Wildfire

The Texas A&M Forest Service, which oversees Texas fire response, reports that the probable blazes are centered in the Texas plains and southwest Texas between Amarillo, Lubbock, Childress, Andrews, and Alpine/Fort Davis.

At least 73 counties now have a burn ban in place.

Officials have requested that additional firemen be sent to areas of concern that may require assistance and resources. Currently, firemen are stationed in Alpine, Amarillo, Big Spring, Childress, Fort Stockton, Lubbock, and San Angelo, among other sites.

The development comes about two weeks after the state extinguished the Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest in its history and one of the largest in the country.

The wildfire killed at least three people, displaced several families, slaughtered thousands of cattle, and destroyed hundreds of houses.

According to the forest service, new fires will rely on the strength of the wind, resulting in a moderate to high risk of big wildfires that will be difficult to contain. High wind gusts could also cause power line ignitions.

Officials anticipate a wildfire outbreak in the southern lowlands and throughout the Panhandle.

Wildfires that start in dry grass can spread at speeds of three to five mph, according to officials. As a result, teams have been stationed in the appropriate regions, ready to combat any flames that may break out this week.

Weather Conditions

Meteorologists predicted a cold front to sweep south through the western plains into Monday morning. Cold winds may cause wildfires to flare up on their southern or right flanks.

The elevated risk of new fires is expected to continue later this week, with dry conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday and another storm system on Thursday, which could bring stronger winds to the Texas Plains and Trans-Pecos regions.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency as fresh wildfires raged across the state.

"Texans in at-risk areas are urged to remain vigilant, regularly monitor conditions and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones," the governor said.

Xcel Energy, which serves many areas of the Texas Panhandle, is now facing many lawsuits for alleged wrongdoing prior to the cases filed in connection with the Smokehouse Creek Fire.

It is now already facing over 280 lawsuits following the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, which caused more than $2 billion in property damage.

Xcel Energy is blamed for the outbreak of the Smokehouse Creek fire, which burned over a million acres of property and resulted in the deaths of two individuals, likely triggered by one of their electricity poles.

"Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in the ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire," the company said.

The electric utility company stated that it was working on investigations and denied allegations that it was careless in maintaining its infrastructure, but encouraged those who had property or livestock destroyed to use its claim process.