Republican Governor Greg Abbott said on Friday that wildfires in the Texas Panhandle may have destroyed as many as 500 buildings, detailing how the worst fire in state history incinerated everything in its path and left ashes in its wake.

Texas officials issued a warning, saying the threat had not vanished. Concerns that fires in the Panhandle might grow beyond the more than 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers) that have already been consumed by swiftly spreading flames this week were heightened by higher temperatures and stronger winds predicted for Saturday.

The largest fire, the Smokehouse Creek fire, started on Monday and has burned out houses, scorched prairie, and dead animals in addition to killing at least two people. Even though the origin of the fire is still being investigated, the flames were fueled by high winds, parched grass, and unusually warm temperatures.

Abbott stated during a press conference in Borger, Texas, “When you look at the damages that have occurred here, it’s just gone, completely gone, nothing left but ashes on the ground.” He added that 400–500 buildings had been damaged according to an initial assessment.
Abbott commended the “fearless” firemen for their “heroic” reaction.

He declared, “It would have been far worse and far more damaging—not just to people and property, but also to those firefighters.”

Strong winds, comparatively low humidity, and dry conditions are predicted by the National Weather Service over the next several days, which provide a “significant” risk of wildfire.
Abbott stated, “Everyone needs to understand that as we head into this weekend, we face enormous potential fire dangers.” Nobody is allowed to lower their guard. Everyone needs to use extreme caution.

Families that had to flee the 1,600-person community of Stinnett due to the Smokehouse Creek fire returned home on Thursday to find horrifying scenes: melted street signs and blackened vehicle and truck chassis. Houses turned to ash and debris mounds. A demolished home with an American flag displayed outside.

Danny Phillips uttered, “We had to watch from a few miles away as our neighborhood burned,” his voice quivering with passion.
While Phillips’ single-story house survived, the situation of some of his neighbors wasn’t as favorable.

The Texas A&M Forest Service reported on Friday that the Smokehouse Creek fire has spilled into Oklahoma and combined with another fire. Friday afternoon had a 15% containment rate, up from 3% on Thursday.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller stated that while the fires might cause catastrophic losses for individual ranchers, he anticipated that the overall effect on the state’s cattle market and consumer prices for meat would be negligible.This Monday, it was confirmed that the flames had killed two ladies. However, officials haven’t yet conducted a comprehensive search for victims or tabulated the number of homes and other structures damaged or destroyed, and flames continue to threaten a large region.

According to Sgt. Chris Ray of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Cindy Owen saw smoke or fire while traveling in Hemphill County, south of Canadian, on Tuesday afternoon. As soon as she stepped out of her truck, flames engulfed her.