FORT WORTH, TX — Fort Worth firefighters joined forces with regional crews to combat the extensive wildfires raging throughout the Texas Panhandle. The department dispatched 15 Fort Worth firefighters to assist various agencies as the fires continued to spread across the region.
The Texas A&M Forest Service is actively working to contain four fires that have put thousands directly in harm's way. To bolster firefighting efforts, the agency has enlisted support from the San Antonio Fire Department and multiple Bexar County Emergency Service Districts.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, as of Wednesday morning, February 28, has rapidly expanded to cover 500,000 acres. This marks a significant increase from Tuesday morning when it was estimated to be less than 50,000 acres. The magnitude of this major wildfire has now made it the second largest in Texas history, trailing only behind a fire that burned over 907,000 acres in 2007. The most destructive in terms of property damage was the Bastrop fire in 2011, which consumed 1,600 homes and over 32,000 acres.
The San Antonio Fire Department has actively deployed personnel to aid in the crisis. A spokesperson reported, "We have six confirmed deployed personnel and two more on standby." Additionally, incident management team members and wildland personnel from the SAFD are contributing to ground operations. Members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 are preparing for deployment for search and rescue work, while a helicopter team stands by to assist in rescue efforts.
The collaborative efforts of firefighters from various regions aim to contain the wildfires and protect communities affected by this devastating crisis in the Texas Panhandle.
Firefighters Fighting Wildfires Throughout Texas Panhandle
(Credit: Screen Grab from Facebook Video, https://www.facebook.com/KAMRLOCAL4…)
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