Texas Panhandle wildfires force evacuations

developing this morning a state of disaster declared for dozens of Texas Panhandle counties as wildfires are showing no signs of slowing down so we have Denise Middleton here um kind of breaking down the mandatory evacuation orders um and also this incredible video yeah good morning you know officials say homes have burned in almost every direction as these wildfires continue to burn out of control take a look at this new video out of Wheeler County though horses seen Galloping next to Vehicles

down a smoke Field Road as people try to evacuate across the Texas Panhandle region emergency officials say an unknown number of homes and other structures have been damaged or destroyed the largest Blaze has burned nearly 470 square miles and you can see just how intense the fire is there in Hutchinson County with flames SM Sparks and smoke along roadways strong winds dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures have fueled the blazes the wildfires have also paused work at a nuclear weapons fac

ility which has said it would reopen for normal work today now the fast moving fires have left some farmers and ranchers scrambling to protect their property Texas agriculture commissioner Sid Miller had this to say via social media as Texas agriculture commissioner I am deeply concerned about the devastating wildfires raging through the Texas Panhandle these fires not only threaten lives and property but also have a significant impact on our agriculture industry we stand in solidarity with our

farmers and ranchers facing loss and dest ruction now while Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties that may be extended to more counties if conditions warrant meantime the Houston fire department is sending resources to help out reporting live in the studio Denise Middleton Fox 26 news