Wildfires raging in the Texas Panhandle have led to evacuations, power outages and the temporary closure of a nuclear weapons facility.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned 500,000 acres since it ignited Monday, making it the second-largest wildfire on record in the Lone Star State, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The flames have spread at an average rate of 150 football fields per minute, according to cnn Meteorologist Brandon Miller.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the wildfires.
“Texans are urged to limit activities that could generate sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe,” Abbott said.
More than 5,400 people in Texas were without power Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned 500,000 acres since it ignited Monday, making it the second-largest wildfire on record in the Lone Star State.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 7 Flames from the Smokehouse Creek Fire have spread at an average rate of 150 football fields per minute. Pictured are remains of plants burned by the Smokehouse Creek Fire.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_240_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
Flames from the Smokehouse Creek Fire have spread at an average rate of 150 football fields per minute. Pictured are remains of plants burned by the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 9 Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the wildfires.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_927_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the wildfires.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 11 A view of the charred grasslands that were burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_256_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
A view of the charred grasslands that were burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 13 1709137875 227 Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now states second largest blaze](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_227_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
More than 5,400 people in Texas were without power Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 15 1709137875 646 Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now states second largest blaze](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_646_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph, dry conditions and unusually warm temperatures have fueled the fires.
The Pantex plant, the country’s main facility that assembles and dismantles the US nuclear arsenal, had evacuated most of its staff Tuesday night as fires raged out of control near its facilities.
Earlier Wednesday, Pantex tweeted that the facility “is open for normal day shift operations” and that all staff were required to report to work according to their assigned schedule.
“The Smokehouse Creek Fire is being fueled by southwest winds up to 60 mph and is rapidly spreading east-northeast toward the town of Canadian in Texas.” AccuWeather said severe weather expert Guy Pearson.
Gusty winds, dry conditions and unusually warm temperatures have fueled the fires.
The Grape Vine Creek Fire has reached 30,000 acres, the Reamer Fire has burned 2,000 acres, the Windy Deuce Fire has burned 40,000 acres and the Magenta Fire has burned 2,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Evacuations were ordered in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoe, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
The Canadian Independent School District canceled classes on Wednesday.
“Houses have been burned in almost every direction,” Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told the local newspaper. The Canadian record.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 17 A view of a house that was burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Canadian, Texas](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_287_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
A view of a house that was burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Canadian, Texas
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 19 1709137875 564 Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now states second largest blaze](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_564_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
“Houses have been burned in almost every direction,” Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told local newspaper The Canadian Record.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 21 1709137875 344 Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now states second largest blaze](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_344_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
A charred vehicle sits in the driveway of a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek Fire. The Hansford County Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook: “Structures and homes lost in Hemphill County inside and outside of Canada.”
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 23 Evacuations were ordered in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoe, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137875_620_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
Evacuations were ordered in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoe, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 25 Randall, Potter counties and the city of Amarillo had declared a state of local disaster, according to the Amarillo Area Emergency Management Office.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137876_226_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
Randall, Potter counties and the city of Amarillo had declared a state of local disaster, according to the Amarillo Area Emergency Management Office.
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 27 The remains of a bicycle are found in front of a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire. The Canadian Independent School District canceled classes on Wednesday](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137876_515_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
The remains of a bicycle are found in front of a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire. The Canadian Independent School District canceled classes on Wednesday
![Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE 29 The weather forecast gave firefighters hope: cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain on Thursday](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1709137876_195_Smokehouse-Creek-Fire-in-Texas-is-now-states-second-largest-blaze.jpg.webp)
The weather forecast gave firefighters hope: cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain on Thursday
Randall, Potter counties and the city of Amarillo had declared a state of local disaster, according to the Amarillo Area Emergency Management Office.
The Hansford County Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook: “Structures and homes lost in Hemphill County inside and outside of Canada.”
“Multiple areas in and around Fritch were evacuated and several homes were lost to the fires.”
The weather forecast gave some hope to firefighters, with cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain on Thursday.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan DePodwin said, “Wednesday’s winds are expected to be 10 to 20 mph, which is much calmer than Tuesday.” This should assist firefighting efforts.’