Texas residents fled their homes overnight after a wildfire in Walker County quickly grew to consume thousands of acres.
The fire, dubbed the Game Preserve Fire, ignited Friday afternoon near Huntsville, an hour north of Houston, and 3,000 acres of 100 in less than a day, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
As of Saturday morning, only 10% of the fire has been successfully contained, the officer said.
As the fire spread, the Walker County Office of Emergency Management recommended residents in the neighborhood about 20 minutes north of Huntsville evacuate their homes. The proposed evacuation remains in place for Saturday, officials said.
As huge plumes of smoke engulfed the gray and orange sky, rancher Andy Walker, who was moving his cattle and evacuating, said he was terrified by the growing flames.
“It’s creepy. There’s amber or ash everywhere, if you stop your truck … you’ll have ash all over your truck,” he told ABC13.
Officials are urging residents within a 3-mile radius of Lost Indian Camp Road to evacuate their homes. Facebook/Marshall Altom
Officials said that firefighters are building containment lines and patrolling the area, with additional crews expected to arrive to fight the fire Saturday, KHOU11 reported. Thermometers are expected to reach 100 degrees in the area on Saturday.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas A&M Forest Service to activate an air tanker base in Austin to help contain wildfires across the state on Friday, ahead of the Labor Day weekend. There are dozens of fires across the state, Forest Service maps show, with most of them under control.
“Additional resources through this air base will provide greater support to state and local officials as they respond quickly,” the governor said.
The Game Preserve Fire in Walker County, Texas, has spread to consume 3,000 acres in less than a day. Facebook/Marshall Altom
Governor Greg Abbott said the state had activated an air tanker base in Austin to help contain wildfires. Facebook/Marshall Altom
“With triple digit heat forecast for this Labor Day weekend, I urge Texans to remain weather aware and limit any activities that could cause sparks or flames that could cause accidental fires.”
Almost all states are currently experiencing exceptionally dry or drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor.
On July 31, Walker County issued a burn ban for outdoor burning.
No injuries or the cause of the fire were reported as of Saturday morning.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
