Smokehouse Creek Fire becomes largest in Texas history
Over 85% of Texas cattle population located in Panhandle.
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported Thursday morning that the Smokehouse Creek Fire has now burned 1.075 million acres and is only 3% contained, making it the largest wildfire in Texas history. Several other fires continue to burn in the Panhandle, including the Windy Deuce Fire, which has now burned 147,000 and is only 30% contained.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Wednesday that farmers and ranchers are losing everything in the fires and that several grain and seed operations have also reported total losses.
“These fires not only threaten lives and property but will also have a substantial impact on our agriculture industry. Over 85% of the state’s cattle population is located on ranches in the Panhandle. There are millions of cattle out there, with some towns comprising more cattle than people. The losses could be catastrophic for those counties,” Miller said.
In a Thursday morning social media post, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hemphill County reported “massive losses of ranch land (over 400,000 acres in Hemphill County alone), scores of homes destroyed, literally thousands of cattle lost and much more than can be described.”
As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares a disaster in 60 counties, the Texas Department of Agriculture’s State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund (STAR Fund), is calling for donations to assist Texas Panhandle farmers and ranchers. The STAR Fund mobilizes resources to support affected agricultural producers.
Funded 100% through donations, TDA reimburses qualified agricultural producers 50% of eligible expenses. STAR Fund financial resources cannot be used as compensation for crop or livestock losses but rather to help rebuild fences, restore operations, and cover other expenses related to agricultural disaster relief and restarting operations.