Authorities say the Smokehouse Creek fire grew Thursday to nearly 1,700 square miles of scorched rural ranchlands and destroyed homes. So far, two people have died
A wildfire spreading across the Texas Panhandle is now the largest in state history after merging with another blaze. At least two people have died.A dusting of snow covered a desolate landscape of scorched prairie, dead cattle, and burned-out homes in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, giving firefighters brief relief in their desperate efforts to corral a blaze that has grown into the largest in state history.
The Smokehouse Creek fire's explosive growth slowed Thursday as snow fell and winds and temperatures dipped, but it was still untamed and threatening. It is the largest of several major fires burning in the rural Panhandle section of the state. It has also crossed into Oklahoma. "The rain and the snow beneficial right now. We're using it to our advantage," Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman Juan Rodriguez said of the Smokehouse Creek fire. "When the fire isn't blowing up and moving very fast, firefighters are able to actually catch up and get to those parts of the fire."
Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the weekend forecast and "sheer size and scope" of the blaze are the biggest challenges for firefighters. The first person who died was identified by family members as Joyce Blankenship, a former substitute teacher. Her grandson, Lee Quesada, said he had posted in a community forum asking if anyone could try to locate her. Quesada said deputies told his uncle on Wednesday that they had found Blankenship's remains in her burned home.
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