Wildfire grows into 2nd-largest in Texas history as flames menace multiple small towns

Texas (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history Wednesday, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening flames.

The sprawling blaze was part of a cluster of fires that burned out of control and threatened rural towns, where local officials shut down roads and urged residents to leave their homes. The largest of the fires — which expanded to nearly 800 square miles (2,072 square kilometers) — jumped into parts of neighboring Oklahoma and was completely uncontained as dawn broke, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Authorities had not reported any deaths or injuries as of Wednesday morning as huge plumes of smoke billowed hundreds of feet above the blackened landscape. But early assessments indicated that property damage could be extensive.

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Wildfire grows into 2nd-largest in Texas history as flames menace multiple small towns

Fast-moving wildfire in the Texas Panhandle grows to nearly 800 square miles, second-largest in state's history.

apnews.com

 

[1LoverofGod]

Related:

USA is littered with nuclear sites that could face danger from natural disasters.

Massive wildfires in Texas caused operations at the nation's primary nuclear weapons facility to be paused earlier this week, another reminder that the United States is covered in highly sensitive locations that house nuclear weapons, waste and energy reactors.

The U.S. has more than 3,700 nuclear warheads stockpiled around the country and 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states. And while nuclear energy facilities and weapons sites have always been built with potential natural disasters in mind — whether it was earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes or floods — those disasters stress their support systems and create new worries for safety experts.

As of Wednesday evening, the Pantex nuclear weapons plant near Amarillo was not harmed and safely reopened.

Experts told USA TODAY that natural disasters like Texas' wildfires typically don't create an immediate nuclear threat, but they do make carefully caring for nuclear materials more expensive and difficult, increasing safety worries over the long term. Those worries are only compounded by disasters that keep getting worse as the planet warms.

Good news: Nuclear weapons remain well-protected....​

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USA is littered with nuclear sites that could face danger from natural disasters

Experts told USA TODAY that natural disasters like Texas' wildfires typically don't create an immediate nuclear threat. They do prompt other worries.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Baby Yoda]

Once again, many farms and ranches are being destroyed. Not coincidence, IMO.