TYLER, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties as fires continue to burn in the Texas Panhandle. While it may be a couple hundred miles away, East Texans are stepping up to help.
"It’s sitting right now at 500,000 acres with zero percent containment," Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Sean Dugan said.
While Dugan is usually here in East Texas, he's currently in the Texas Panhandle dealing with what they call a Southern Plains wildfire outbreak.
"The SPWO (Southern Plains wildfire outbreak) fires account for only 1 percent of the number of fires that happen in the state, but they account for almost half the acreage. There aren't very many but they get really big," Dugan said.
Based on the estimates without walking the acreage burned yet, the Smokehouse Creek wildfire has already grown to be the second largest wildfire in Texas history. As it continues to burn, heroes here in the Piney Woods are headed to help.
"So initially we responded to the request from the state of Texas with two firefighters on a brush truck. As conditions continue to deteriorate in the Panhandle region we’ve sent additional with two more on a brush truck and two more on a strike team leadership position like a chief officer. Additionally, we are preparing as we speak to send two more on a water tanker truck like you see behind me," Smith County Emergency Services District 2 Fire Chief Eric Greaser said.
Greaser said that recent weather conditions have lead to increased risk for fires across the state.
"We absolutely ask all of our citizens to exercise extreme caution and really decide if it needs to be burned at this point. We would rather if you did not, especially until the wind subsides and humidity and or moisture improves," Greaser said.
But regardless, Greaser said they are prepared and equipped to help by saying: "Texans (are) helping Texans, across the state of Texas."