The Smokehouse Creek Fire was a record-breaking wildfire affecting the northeastern Texaspanhandle and western Oklahoma that started on February 26, 2024. The fire affected numerous communities in Hemphill and Roberts counties, including the town of Canadian.[3][4] As of March 16, 2024[update], the fire had burned approximately 1,058,482 acres (1,654 sq mi; 428,352 ha) before it was successfully contained,[1] making it the largest wildfire on record in Texas's history (going back to 1988) as well as the largest wildfire in the United States during 2024.[5] It was one of multiple fires during an outbreak of wind-driven wildfires in the Great Plains.
Progression
The Smokehouse Creek Fire began at approximately 2:20 p.m. CST on February 26, 2024, around one mile north of Stinnett, Texas by the intersection of County Road 11 and County Road O.[1] The cause of the fire was downed power lines due to broken utility pole.[6] InciWeb records an ignition time of approximately 2:20 p.m. CST, but a heat signature was visible via the GOES-18 weather satellite as early as 12:56 p.m.[1] As the fire spread to the east, it crossed and engulfed northern portions of a stream called Smokehouse Creek, becoming its namesake.[1] The weather conditions over Texas at the time were highly conducive to the spread of fires, with unusually warm temperatures and gusty conditions prevailing over the region.[7][8] The area scorched by the fire grew rapidly to 500,000 acres (780 sq mi; 200,000 ha) within 24 hours of ignition as strong winds fanned the flames eastward.[9]
On February 27, 2024, the fire crossed into Oklahoma with evacuations in Gage and Shattuck from unrelated fires the same day.[10][11] By the next day, blazes began to spread across the region due to high winds.[12] Following an increase in low-level winds, the fire grew to the second-largest Texas wildfire by the afternoon, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott's disaster declaration stated that 60 counties were affected.[13] Eight hundred and fifty thousand acres were scorched.[14] By 3:00 pm CST, the fire was reported to have burned 1,074,047 acres (1,678 sq mi; 434,651 ha) with only 3% containment. It had become the largest fire in Texas state history, overtaking the East Amarillo Fort Complex Fire in 2006, which burned 907,245 acres and caused 12 fatalities in various Texas Panhandle cities.
Effects
As of March 16, 2024, the Smokehouse Creek fire has destroyed at least 30 houses in the town of Canadian, Texas, and over 100 houses in Hutchinson County, Texas.[15] At least 11,000 people were left without power following the destruction of power lines and miscellaneous infrastructure. Two fatalities, Joyce Blankenship from Stinnett, Texas, and Cindy Owens from Amarillo, Texas, have been confirmed.[5][16]
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