Wildfires raging in Texas?! What’s going on? It’s certainly not the headline we expected, as we are used to the news saying “Huge California Wildfires”. However, wildfires can occur anywhere, as we witnessed just last year in New Jersey. This year, it’s Texas in the spotlight with its wildfires.
Just like New Jersey, Texas is facing numerous fires, but not big ones. The biggest wildfire the state of Texas has had is about 900,000 acres of land. Which is huge – about the size of Long Island!
The wildfire burning Northern Texas is breaking state records. This fire has torched over 1 million acres of the Texas panhandle. Tragically, more than 7,000 cows have perished due to the fires and several lives have been lost to the wildfires. One particularly heartbreaking loss is that of a small-town fire chief, who perished in a house fire unrelated to the wildfires.
Despite tirelessly battling the wildfires for over a week, he courageously entered a burning house to rescue trapped individuals but succumbed to a heart attack. Although EMS tried to save him, he passed away in the hospital. This hero’s sacrifice underscores the bravery of all first responders.
Currently, firefighters report the fire is 41% contained, leaving 59% still ablaze. The wildfire’s toll is staggering, having consumed an estimated $97 million worth of timber. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the firefighters risking their lives to protect others in this crisis.
