This past weekend, firefighters were battling wildfires that broke out across the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, including one that burned an estimated 14,000 acres and forced the evacuation of around 350 homes.
On Friday evening, the Chocolate Chip Fire emerged about three miles south of Canyon. As a result, northbound and southbound lanes of I-27 were temporarily closed on Friday, and evacuations for River Falls were upheld until that night. A temporary shelter was opened in the city of Canyon, TX.
The Hunggate Fire in Randall County caused temporary evacuation orders for residents living between I-27 east to Palo Duro Canyon, but per the Randall County Sheriff ’s Office, these orders were lifted at 9:21 p.m. that Friday night. The fire also destroyed a historic railroad bridge as the fast-moving wildfire tore through the area and shut down BNSF, which owns the line and bridge, until crews rebuilt while maintaining service through reroutes.
At that point, the Hunggate fire was 40% contained, and the Sheriff’s Office did not yet have “an accurate count of damaged or destroyed structures.” On Saturday morning, the Hunggate Fire merged with the Chocolate Chip Fire, burning around 14,000 acres combined, and prompting the evacuation of an estimated 350 homes and threatening more than 1,245 homes in surrounding regions. A historic railroad bridge in the Texas Panhandle was engulfed in flames and ultimately destroyed as a fastmoving wildfire tore through the region Flaring up Sunday, the combined Hunggate and Chocolate Chip Fires made up 34,124 acres, but were 95% contained on Monday, per New Channel 10 in Amarillo.
A damage assessment of areas affected by the merged Hunggate and Chocolate Chip Fires by Texas A&M Forest Service found that seven occupied homes were lost, three unoccupied homes were lost, three homes sustained minor damage, and 13 buildings were lost, while five buildings sustained major damage and one building sustained minor damage. Officials also say that a total of 600 homes were saved during the fire.
Also in Randall County, the Western Fire, which burned an estimated 1,137 acres, was deemed fully contained by Saturday. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire was started by someone welding on Friday afternoon.
Other fires broke out in Oldham, Potter, Hartley, and Dallam Counties in Texas, as well as Quay County in New Mexico and Cimarron and Beaver Counties in Oklahoma.
On Saturday evening, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved a request by the State of Texas for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. This grant was asked for in reference to the Hunggate Fire specifically, as it threatened and damaged the largest number of homes and infrastructure.
“Texas will provide all necessary resources to ensure the well-being of those affected by wildfires in the Panhandle area,” said Abbott. He added a request that Texans should “limit any activities that can cause a spark and heed the guidance of state and local officials to prevent additional wildfires and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
The approval of the Fire Management Assistance Grant makes the State of Texas eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for costs associated with wildfire containment and suppression.
Also under Abbott’s direction, state wildfire response resources remain deployed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management to support local wildfire response efforts. With the help of the Texas Emergency Management Council, this agency continues to monitor increased wildfire conditions.