Wildfires continued to burn out of control in northern Texas on Friday morning, and officials warned that warm, windy and dry weather was expected to return over the weekend that could fan the flames.
The National Weather Service forecast “critical fire weather conditions” in the region on Saturday and Sunday, and urged residents to refrain from outdoor activities that might generate sparks or flames over the weekend, which includes Texas Independence Day on Saturday.
A fire weather watch was posted for Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening, covering the Texas Panhandle and nearby parts of Oklahoma.
Five fires were still active in the Panhandle on Friday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The Smokehouse Creek fire has charred at least 1,075,000 acres of land, making it the largest wildfire on record in Texas history.
Organizations:
National Weather Service, Texas Independence, Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma ., Texas, M, Service
Locations:
Texas, Oklahoma, Panhandle