Massive Texas Panhandle Wildfire Now The 2nd Largest In Texas History

Get our free mobile app

The Texas Panhandle is now experiencing one of the largest wildfires in Texas history. The Smokehouse Creek Fire is so large and has been moving so quickly, it has burned an average rate of 150 football fields every minute according to a report from CNN.

The massive wildfire, just one of several in the Texas Panhandle is now at 500,000 acres and is 0% contained. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire has moderated with lighter winds in the area, but is still burning.

Fueling the fire on Tuesday was a combination of very dry conditions with wind speeds up to 60 mph.

The wildfire has lead to buildings burning down and several evacuations of towns in the path of the flames. A cold front changed the direction of the fire and smoke and at one point the Pantex Nuclear facility was evacuated.

Late last night smoke from the Texas Panhandle arrived in Lubbock and is still lingering in the air as of Wednesday morning.

Several images from the fire have stunned people across the state and nation.

While the Smokehouse Creek Fire is the second largest wildfire in Texas history, the largest wildfire was back in 2006, known as the East Amarillo Complex fire.