As Texas' largest-ever wildfire nears containment, Panhandle braces for "extremely critical fire weather conditions"
CBSN
The Smokehouse Creek Fire – the largest wildfire to ever burn across Texas – is nearly completely contained after spreading almost 1.1 million acres. But as responders continue in the final stretch, officials warned Tuesday that they could face another hurdle – "extremely critical fire weather" in the Panhandle.
As of Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. local time, the Texas A&M Forest Service said the Smokehouse Creek Fire is 89% contained and has burned an estimated 1,058,482 acres. The nearby Windy Deuce Fire, which has spread to more than 144,000 acres, is 94% contained.
But there is still danger that the deadly and disastrous fires could further spread, and that even more could break out.
A group of House Democrats Tuesday called for action from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, days after CBS News published an investigation which found dozens of law enforcement officials illegally sold firearms, even weapons of war, across 23 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.