SMOKEHOUSE CREEK FIRE (FORMERLY HUTCHINSON 0317 FIRE)

Sit Rep 3: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 1050 hours PST

Photo Credit: Texas A&M Forest Service

INCIDENT SUMMARY

At about 1420 hours CST on Monday afternoon on Monday, February 26, 2024, a wildfire broke out one mile north of Sinnett and east of Hwy 207 in Hutchinson County, Texas.

CURRENT STATUS

This is definitely a mammoth wildfire going from 40,000 on the day of origin to a whopping 500,000 acres as of today’s date.

It has literally grown over 10 times the amount of acres it did on its ignition which is amazing and dangerous for those who are fighting it from the air and ground.

Yesterday afternoon, the fire had moved from 40,000 to 200,000 acres which was due to high winds and increasing fire behavior to become extreme.

On Monday, February 26, 2024, Texas A&M Forest Service responded to 13 new requests for mutual aid assistance on wildfires, burning 77,135 acres across the State. – TXFAS

There is currently a 0% containment status.

Photo Credit: TXFAS

There is no known preliminary cause for this firestorm at the moment and investigators will be investigating this one for a long time.

FIRE OPERATIONS

According to Fire Officials, last night the south flank of the fire saw crews building fireline(s) with bulldozers while being challenged by rough terrain and poor fire weather conditions. Structure protection and patrolling fire lines were the constant focus of the night.

As of today, 125 wildfires are burning in the State of Texas for a total of 551,796.10 acres having been destroyed. – Texas A&M Forest Service

The fire has extended across multiple counties in the northeastern parts of the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma. Several fire crews were deployed to Canada and Miami areas to install control lines around the Canadian (TX) towns, with structure protection in effect.

Today, County motor graders are assisting with fireline construction. Due to the ground terrain, they are unable to gain access to provide direct fire attack so engine crews are holding and lines and patrolling. Additional dozers are on order and will be arriving on the fire line shortly.

Photo Courtesy: Mark Keough County Judge

Winds have been observed as increasing and will continue to maintain this position.

The head of the fire is said to be pushing up to the Hemphill County line.

INJURIES

No injuries to civilians, firefighters, or first responders have been reported.

In 2022, there were 12,411 wildfires in Texas and had a total of 650,712 acres burned with the largest number of wildfires being 30,896 for a total of 3,943,770 acres destroyed. – TX A&M Forest Service

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Several unknown numbers of structures in Canadian (TX) have been damaged.

Photo Credit: Flower Mound FD

EVACUATIONS

Several shelters are currently open. This is located in the state of Oklahoma.

  • Fort Supply Baptist Church, 219 Sheridan, Fort Supply, OK.
  • Roger Mills County Courthouse, 500 E. Broadway, Cheyenne, OK.
  • Vici Community Room, 604 Main Street, Vici, OK.
  • Woodward Conference Center, 3401 Centennial Drive, Woodward, OK.

There are no evacuation notices or orders inside of Texas.

RESOURCES

Unified Command currently includes TX A&M Forest Service and local Fire Agencies.

Fire resources assigned to this incident include:

  • Snyder Volunteer Fire Department
  • Midland TX Fire Department – 2 members, Engineer Kyle Earhart and Capt. Cody Quintana
  • Odessa Fire Department – one member
  • Porter Fire Department – two members
  • New Waverly Fire Department – two members
  • South Montgomery County Fire Department
  • Red Oak Fire & Rescue
  • Fort Worth Fire Department – 15 members
  • City of Hewitt Fire Department
  • DeStoro Fire Rescue
  • Grand Prairie Fire Department
  • Columbus Volunteer Fire Department
  • Bowman Volunteer Fire Department
  • Forest Bend Fire Department
  • TIFMAS – 5 members
  • TX Task Force 1 and 2
  • Flower Mound FD – 3 members with Wildland Team / State brush truck, Strike Team
  • Forest Bend Fire Department – Several members deployed

Photo Credit: Meteorologist Conley Isom

Law Enforcement:

Additional Resources:

INCIDENT TIMELINE

2/26/2024, Monday (Day 1)

  • Fire breaks out, listed at 40,000 acres, 0% contained.
  • The State’s Wildland Fire Preparedness Level increases to Level 2 due to an increase in current and expected wildfire activity.

Photo Credit: Chief Nim Kidd / TX Division of Emergency Management

2/27/2024, Tuesday (Day 2)

  • Winds and fire behavior increased, fire is now at 200,000 acres. 0% containment status.
  • 63 Texas counties have burn bans in effect.
  • Gov. Greg Abbott issues a Disaster Declaration for Texas Wildfires for 60 counties.

2/28/2024, Wednesday (Day 3)

  • Winds increase and have been throughout the morning. They will continue until Thursday.
  • Fire burns through 500,000 acres and still remains at a 0% containment status.
  • It becomes the second-largest wildfire in the State of Texas fire history.

Photo Credit: TX A&M Forest Service

THROUGH THE EYES OF SOCIAL MEDIA

  • LOCAL MEDIA: Fire burned cars, homes, and towns of Gage and Shattuck.

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