Firefighters continue to battle Texas wildfire

Cooler temperatures on Monday helped slow the spread of five major wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, some which have been burning since February 26. The Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire in state history, has burned over 1 million acres in Texas and territory in Oklahoma. It has killed two people so far.

What is the status of the fires? As of Tuesday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service website reported the status of the wildfires as follows:

• Smokehouse Creek Fire, Hutchinson County: 1,059,570 acres, 37% contained.

• Windy Deuce Fire, Moore County: 144,206 acres, 55% contained.

• Grape Vine Creek Fire, Gray County: 34,882 acres, 60% contained.

• Magenta Fire, Oldham County: 3,297 acres, 85% contained.

• Roughneck Fire, Hutchinson County: est. 300 acres, 25% contained.

How did the blaze start? Officials have not said what they believe caused the wildfire. An investigation was opened into how the fires started, Texas governor Greg Abbott said at a Friday press conference.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report in The Sift about the wildfires.