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A wildfire that grew massively in a matter of hours ravaged large swaths of ranch land in a rural area of Texas, destroying several structures, forcing evacuations, and closing schools on Tuesday.
The fire, which began early Monday afternoon, has crossed more than 200 square kilometers (78 square miles) in less than a day in sparsely populated areas of two north-central Texas counties. Fueled by strong winds along with extremely hot and dry conditions, the Ross fire jumped creeks and rivers, residents said.
“It just flared up too fast,” said Katie Rochelle, whose fifth-generation family canoe rental business lost its office and repair shop outside Graford. “The wind was moving in a tornado-like motion.”
Her husband, a local firefighter, helped save their house overnight, but she was worried it could go up in flames at any moment.
“I don’t know how our house survived,” she said. “Now we’re just waiting and praying. Praying it doesn't reach our house. That’s all we can do.”
Fire-favorable conditions allowed the blaze to widen in a matter of hours, Palo Pinto County emergency services district officials noted. “We’ve thrown everything at this, and we’re still having a minimal effect,” Fire Chief Danny Watkins said.
Wildfires have been popping up across the southern and western United States in recent days as extremely dry conditions persist. On Sunday alone, a dozen new large fires were reported, the National Interagency Fire Center reported.
Across the country, more than 50,000 wildfires have been recorded so far this year, the highest figure in the last 10 years for the same period, according to the center.
The National Weather Service warned of a high risk of rapidly spreading fires in Southern California north of Los Angeles, and a red flag warning was issued through Friday.
Firefighters in Nevada were making progress in slowing a fire that forced thousands of people to evacuate in Reno over the weekend, after flames spread dangerously close to densely populated neighborhoods.
The Hawk fire has destroyed more than 30 homes across some 60 square kilometers (23 square miles). Nevada authorities reported on Monday that the fire was 27% contained.
The number of residents in the Reno area under evacuation orders and warnings dropped to about 63,000, down from more than 90,000 people. The fire near the state border with California began Saturday and grew rapidly on Sunday. At least seven people—three first responders and four civilians—were injured.
Fire authorities in Reno attribute the Hawk fire to human activity and note that it was started intentionally or accidentally.
In Texas, the Ross fire was only slightly contained as it moved through ranch land about 96 kilometers (60 miles) west of Fort Worth. At least five structures have been destroyed, according to Palo Pinto County officials.
Emergency managers expect the fire to continue growing as temperatures rise.
Rochelle, whose great-grandparents started the canoe rental business in 1969, said the fire also burned a family home built on the property about 100 years ago. Some of the company’s buses and trailers were also destroyed, but the canoes appeared to be okay for now.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do now,” said her father, Buddy Rochelle.
Authorities opened evacuation centers, some schools canceled classes, and ranchers and a livestock commission were offering barns to temporarily house animals that need to be evacuated.
[Publicidad]