Smokehouse Creek Fire Now 2X Area Of Metro Houston; 1.1 Million Acres; 2nd Largest In US Record

In the Texas Panhandle, lampposts are now melted, power line posts are split in half and homes and properties have been reduced to charred remains. The Smokehouse Creek Fire that broke out on Monday has since extended to 1.1 million acres, firefighters said Thursday, quickly becoming the "largest and most destructive" in state history.

The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department said overnight that the fire, located in Hutchinson County, grew to 1.1 million acres and is roughly 3% contained. "This is now both the largest and most destructive fire in Texas history," the department wrote on Facebook. "It is also the second largest wildfire in U.S. history."

On Wednesday, the Texas A&M Forest Service increased the state's wildland fire preparedness level to a 3 out of 5, meaning that "wildfire activity is impacting several regions of the state as the result of drought, dry vegetation or frequent fire weather events."

There are at least five active wildfires throughout the state, with the Smokehouse Creek Fire being the largest by far. The second-largest active wildfire as of Thursday is the Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County, which has grown to an estimated 142,000 acres and is 30% contained, according to the Forest Service. Other active wildfires include the 687 Reamer Fire in Hutchinson County, Grape Vine Creek Fire in Gray County and the Magenta Fire in Oldham County.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/smokehouse-creek-fire-texas-panhandle-second-largest-state-history/