'Nothing left but ashes': Gov. Greg Abbott gives updates on Texas Panhandle wildfire efforts

BORGER — With the largest wildfire in Texas history blazing just miles away, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday gathered with state and local officials to offer updates about ongoing efforts to battle the historic fires and aid those impacted.

As of Sunday morning, the Smokehouse Creek wildfire, which was still burning in the Texas Panhandle and in western Oklahoma, was still only 15% contained.

Before meeting with emergency management personnel, Abbott toured the areas impacted by numerous fires that have ravaged the Texas Panhandle since Monday, burning more than a million acres, killing at least one and destroying hundreds of structures along the way.

"When you look at the damages that have occurred here, it's just gone — completely gone. Nothing left but ashes on the ground," Abbott said.

Abbott confirmed one person died in the fires, though he could not confirm reports of a second death. Preliminary assessments estimate more than 400 structures were destroyed in the fires, he said.

Abbott praised the first responders working to contain the fires as 14 state agencies and 45 local agencies battle the blazes and aid in recovery.

"The largest fire in the history of the state of Texas cut a path so large that it exceeds the size of some states in our country, and it would have been far worse and far more damaging, not only to property, but also to people, but for those firefighters," Abbott said.

Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Department of Emergency Management, who joined the governor for the briefing, noted at least five firefighters have been injured so far while fighting the fires. He said three firefighters were burned Monday night, treated and released. Another firefighter reportedly jumped off a truck and fractured a limb, while one injured a rib.

Abbott and Kidd warned Panhandle Texans that the worst of the wildfire disaster might not be over yet. They cited elevated fire weather conditions going into the weekend that could cause fires to intensify.

"We face enormous potential fire dangers as we head into this weekend. No one can let down their guard. Everyone must remain very vigilant," Abbott said. "Winds are going to pick back up; the right elements for a fire will be around."

"(Saturday) is going to be a bad fire day. There will be people that will be caught by surprise by that," Kidd added "Stay fire aware and weather aware. Continue to listen to (your) local officials. If they ask you to evacuate, if they order you to evacuate, it is for your own safety."

Kidd said the state will continue to work on a short-term and long-term basis to aid in firefighting and recovery efforts.

"We're not leaving here until the fire is out and until we're well on the path to recovery," he said.

Kidd stressed that the public should not get wrapped up on terms like percent contained when thinking about the present danger of fire.

“As the fire continues to smolder right now with the wind picking ... please do not get wrapped around the axel on containment percentages. ... I do not want that (containment percentages) to lead you to a false sense of security. It is going to be a very active weekend," Kidd said.

Some significant issues in fighting the current fire have been high winds, dry grass and lack of air support at the fire's outbreak.

"It is something that when we realized that, because of winds, because of other challenges, there was air support that was not provided initially. If it had been provided, it is possible that the fire could have been more contained,” Abbott said. “That is the kind of thing that lets me and other decision makers in Austin, Texas know that if we can provide the type of equipment and personnel that we will be able to better fight fires like this, it is something that we need to step up and do. Bottom line is we want to make sure that we do not have a repeat of this type of fire in the future.”

Abbott stated this would likely be something that the state will address in its next session.

“Maybe the best tool that we could add to the toolbox to prevent a fire like this would be better, different types of planes to make sure that we would be able to drop retardant and other material that would slow or stop a fire,” Abbott added.

Abbott stressed the need to get a proper assessment of the damage and to take care of the people that have been displaced due to fire damage. He said that he would be making a federal disaster declaration request, which is tied to monetary damage to areas, which makes time of the essence in reporting these damages.

“We have people that do not have a home; they do not have a place to go; their home is gone,” Abbott said. “As a state, we as Texans, as a community need to collaborate to work not just on the restoration process. That restoration process takes a while ... we need to work on finding immediate housing for those affected.”

Among the residents who lost buildings in the area was Jenny Lane who lives in Stinnett near where the fire started. She lives close to where an 83-year-old woman lost her life in the massive fire. After hearing about the fire on the roadway, Lane evacuated her home, which, against all odds, escaped any fire damage. As the fire skirted around her house downing a tree near her porch and destroying surrounding homes and buildings, still standing was her house, wooden cross and an American flag singed at its edges.

“The fire people said that all those homes are gone, but I said I believe in the power of prayer,” Lane said. “When I returned and saw all the damage, my heart stopped upon seeing all the destruction. The fire went right up to my house and burned all around it. I am grateful and blessed that I still have a place to lay my head.”

Lane said that while her heart goes out for all the loss in her neighborhood, that when she saw her house she could only say thank you, Jesus. She says that while she lost five buildings on her property, in the end it is only stuff and she is grateful that so many were spared from this fire due to the diligence of the brave firefighters that worked so hard to save life and property.

Agencies throughout the area are working to help those displaced and affected by the fires. The Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster Serving the Texas Panhandle (VOAD) had disaster assistance centers open in Canadian and Borger on Thursday and Friday to access the community's needs and provide needed supplies, information and assistance to those needing help.

For those that were not able to make it to either assistance center, the Red Cross can be reached at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or email support@redcrosstraining.org.

There have also been several funds set up to assistance wildfire victims, including through the Amarillo Area Foundation's Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund via Amarillo National Bank, and the Education Credit Union Foundation collecting donations to benefit the Stinnett Fire Department, Borger Fire Department, FritchVolunteer Fire Department and the Hutchinson County United Way.

More: How to help: Ways to provide assistance after wildfires impact West Texas

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Panhandle wildfires: Gov. Greg Abbott gives update on efforts