Texas authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders and urged people to flee their homes after a 1,200-acre wildfire broke out on Friday.
The massive blaze, which covered an area of 900 football fields Friday night, was named the Game Preserve Fire and broke out Friday afternoon in Walker County, Texas in a wooded area along Lost Indian Camp Road.
In the latest update released by officials, they said the fire had engulfed 1,200 acres of land and was ten percent contained.
Hours earlier, the blaze was estimated to have spread to 100 acres, before spreading to 500 acres and then 1,000 acres, prompting authorities to ask nearby residents to flee.
Residents of Pinedale Road, near the fire, have been told they must evacuate their homes, which appear to be mostly ranches.
It is not yet known exactly what caused the fire or if anyone was injured.
The major blaze currently covers an area of 900 football pitches and started on Friday afternoon.
Crews are monitoring the fire throughout the evening and more crews are expected to be on the scene tomorrow.
Images and videos shared on social media show thick plumes of dark smoke billowing into the air as the blaze burns.
Footage taken from the air shows how far the wildfire has managed to spread in such a short time.
The neighbors said Fox26 houses were burned and cattle were evacuated from the area.
The local man Andy Walker spoke to ABC13 while he was evacuating on Pinedale Road.
He said, “It’s scary. There is amber and ash everywhere, if you stop your truck you will have ashes all over your truck.
Walker said he was preparing to move his cattle and was not taking any chances.
On social media, the Walker County Emergency Management Office said, “Our amazing community – please help me organize the chaos, questions about donations and assistance should be directed to one place.
“For your own safety, do not show up without contacting me. It’s a dangerous fire.
The latest update from the Texas Forest Service states, “The fire in Walker County spans approximately 1,200 acres and is 10% contained.
“The bulldozers continue to build a containment line. Firefighters will patrol the area tonight. Aviation and additional crews will be on site tomorrow to assist in the response.
Footage taken from the air shows how far the wildfire has managed to spread in such a short time
A volunteer fire department shared footage of the wildfire, showing crews battling the blaze.
Images and videos shared on social media show thick plumes of dark smoke billowing into the air as the fire burns.
An earlier update listed fire behavior as “high to extreme”.
In a notice shared on social media, the Walker County Emergency Management Office said, “Major fire on Lost Indian Camp Road near FM247.
“FM247 is closed in both lanes, from Pinedale to FM2989. Evacuation recommended anything within 3 miles of Lost Indian Camp Road. Air attack drops water.
It is not known at this time what caused the fire or if anyone was injured.
A local resident shared on TikTok his reaction after seeing the smoke rising into the sky for the first time.
In the video, the man says, “No, that’s crap. Damn damn wildfire going on right here in Huntsville.
“And we’re just sitting here. I was driving and saw smoke everywhere.
The man then pans his camera around to show thick plumes of smoke lingering in the air above him, some distance from the live fire that can be seen smoldering in the distance.
Other footage shared online by the Lovelady Volunteer Fire Department shows air crews dropping water on the inferno.
The TikTok user rotates his camera to show how smoke filled the air nearby.
Field crews used bulldozers in an attempt to create containment lines
Videos shared by the department also show a number of fire crews driving down a road towards the flames.
The camera pans and reveals that the entire wooded area surrounding the road is engulfed in flames.
According to a statement released by Governor Greg Abbott, the state is currently experiencing triple-digit temperatures, with more than 98 percent of the state facing drought.
The Walker County government website said it issued a burning ban as early as July 31, which restricts most outdoor ignitions.
The reported burnt area is located 83 miles outside of downtown Houston.
Images and videos shared on social media show thick plumes of dark smoke billowing into the air as the fire burns.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also announced that he has ordered the Texas A&M Forest Service to open the Austin Airtanker Base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to help with wildfire suppression.
Governor Abbott said in a statement, “Texas has activated Austin Air Force Base to further assist our brave firefighters and emergency response personnel across the state and protect Texans from these wildfires.
“The additional resources provided by this air tanker base will provide even greater support to state and local officials as they respond quickly.
“With triple-digit heat forecast for this Labor Day weekend, I urge Texans to stay alert to weather conditions and limit any activity that could cause sparks or flames that could lead to accidental fires. ”
The base will serve as a recharging station for aircraft arriving and departing to the wildfires.
It comes after a wildfire-hell summer that saw dozens of people lose their lives on the Hawaiian island of Maui and the country’s east coast, engulfed in thick smog from fires in Canada.
More recently, fires have ravaged the idyllic island of Maui and have claimed the lives of at least 115 people so far.
The Maui incident is the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century.
So far, the names of 50 people have been made public and five others have been identified, but their identities have not been released as next of kin have not been contacted. The others have yet to be identified.
A photo made available by the Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources shows an aerial view of the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Maui.
Skies over New York turned orange last month due to the scale of the wildfires in Canada. Pictured: The Big Apple shrouded in smog on June 7 this year
In June, more than 120 million Americans were placed on a “very unhealthy” air quality alert after smoke from fires in Canada crossed the border.
At one point, five cities in the United States made up the ten worst places on Earth for air quality.
