Residents and ranchers in Texas are devastated by the state's largest wildfires.
Northern Texas, cow country, experienced more fires Saturday. Wildfires burned 500 homes and structures, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. At least two died.
Warm temperatures, low humidity, and high winds increase fire risk in northern Texas Saturday, says the weather service. Saturday morning, Brod said, “Given the critical weather that’s predicted for today, we do anticipate additional fire activity and we’re prioritizing our suppression efforts on the areas of highest concern.”
As of Saturday afternoon, the Texas A&M Forest Service was fighting five fires near Amarillo. On Saturday, the 687 Reamer Fire was 10% contained and the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which covers over 1 million acres, 15% contained. The last three fires are 60%–85% contained.
After being told to leave his home on Tuesday, Panhandle rancher Steve Rader said the fires felt “like a blowtorch just pulling over.” Rader arrived home Friday to discover his home gone.
The Panhandle, one of the worst hit, generates 85% of Texas' 12 million cattle.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says cattle and crop losses “are significant and infrastructure damage is catastrophic.” “I know of ranchers who have lost everything,” Miller said Friday in a press release. Hemphill County, Panhandle, has approximately 1,000 missing or dead cattle, horses, goats, and lambs. These numbers should climb, says Miller.
Cattle ate most burned fields. Anderson says premium hotels and restaurants get prime steak from Panhandle livestock. Livestock grazed and fed in scorched regions. After losing their food supply, ranchers like Anderson are trying to save their herd. The wildfires' influence on Texas' livestock business is unknown. However, tens of thousands-acre livestock farms are expected to be seriously devastated.
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