Images From the Smokehouse Creek Fire

A Chinook helicopter dumps water on the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hemphill County after high winds caused a flare-up.
A Chinook helicopter dumps water on the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hemphill County after high winds caused a flare-up.
(Sam Craft, Texas A&M AgriLife)

Wildfires that ripped across the Texas Panhandle left in their wake destroyed homes, blackened earth, downed power lines and wandering livestock. But also, an outpouring of support that arrived by the truckloads in the form of hay, feed and fencing materials in addition to warehouses full of supplies for families who lost their homes. Personnel from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M Forest Service are on the front lines with volunteers to serve and support in the aftermath of the largest wildfire in Texas history.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire, which started in Hutchinson County, burned a total of 1,075,000 acres and has been declared as the largest in Texas history. And, it was only one of multiple fires that threatened homes and livelihoods in the past week.

Smokehouse fire
Photo: Sam Craft
Smokehouse fire
Forest Service plane drops water on a wall of flames as the Smokehouse Creek fire reignited on March 3 near Miami.  (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft)
Smokehouse fire
Donations arrive at a supply point in Pampa. Photo: Sam Craft
Smokehouse fire
Donated hay near Canadian, Texas. Photo: Sam Craft
Smokehouse fire
Firefighters battle flames from the reignited Smokehouse Creek fire outside of Miami. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft)
Smokehouse fire
Megan Eikner loads bags of feed onto trucks at the animal supply point located at the Hutchinson County Airport in Borger. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft)
Smokehouse fire
A firefighter walks a ridge line as a Chinook helicopter flies over ranchland carrying water to dump on the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Photo: Sam Craft

 

 

 

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