Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for 11 counties amid elevated wildfire activity

Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for 11 counties amid elevated wildfire activity

The disaster declaration authorizes the use of resources necessary to battle wildfires in a handful of Texas counties, including Williamson County. TEXAS, USA — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Friday for 11 counties in response to heightened wildfire activity around the state. The disaster declaration authorizes the use of resources necessary to battle wildfires as they happen. Counties listed in the disaster declaration include Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter,…

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Gov. Greg Abbott declares disaster as wildfires rage in several Texas counties

Gov. Greg Abbott declares disaster as wildfires rage in several Texas counties

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Strong winds have fueled a rapid spread of wildfires across the state, pushing Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a disaster declaration for 11 counties in multiple regions. The disaster declaration allows the counties — Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter, Randall, Reynolds and Williamson — to use all available state resources to respond…

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Two Houston-area firefighters helping to put out Texas wildfires

Two Houston-area firefighters helping to put out Texas wildfires

Spring Fire Department captain Tim Weiman and firefighter Jason Adams headed to Eastland County Thursday morning to assist with the North Texas wildfires. TEXAS, USA — When Texas A&M Forest Service put out the call for firefighters trained in wildland firefighting, Tim Weiman didn’t hesitate to answer the call.  “I said ‘Hey, let’s go. Let’s go up there and do a difference,’” said the Spring Fire Department captain.  Weiman along with Spring firefighter Jason Adams…

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How to help Texas residents, first responders affected by Eastland County wildfires

How to help Texas residents, first responders affected by Eastland County wildfires

Here are some ways to help or receive help amid the roaring Eastland County wildfires. EASTLAND, Texas — Wildfires continue to roar through Eastland County and have burned tens of thousands of acres since they began Thursday afternoon.  Dry and windy conditions have fueled much of these fires. Four main fires are currently burning through different areas of the county, but the Texas A&M Forest Service is referring to the overall incident as “the Eastland…

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Smoke drifts into Houston from Texas wildfires

Smoke drifts into Houston from Texas wildfires

While tens of thousands of acres are burning in multiple Texas counties, the winds blew the smoke into our region Friday morning. HOUSTON — As tens of thousands of acres burn in multiple Texas locations, the smoke from those wildfires moved into the Houston area Friday morning, causing hazy conditions, poor air quality, and a burning odor throughout the region, KHOU 11 Meteorologist Kim Castro said. Winds overnight shifted out of the northwest, bringing the…

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Texas wildfire updates: Latest containment and acreage numbers as fires continue

Texas wildfire updates: Latest containment and acreage numbers as fires continue

WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain the sprawling fires. EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas — Wildfires in Eastland County had burned about 45,000 acres by noon Friday, and none of them had much containment as dry, windy conditions persisted.  WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain the sprawling…

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Texas fires burn homes, cause evacuations, bring smoke into state's southeast

Texas fires burn homes, cause evacuations, bring smoke into state's southeast

HOUSTON, Texas — Wildfires in central and northwest Texas are causing some to wake up to the sight and smell of smoke all across the city. Houstonians might smell and see smoke as they head outside Friday morning. As a cold front moved through and wind shifted out of the northwest, smoke from wildfires across the state was brought into southeast Texas. Low humidity and gusty winds fueled multiple wildfires Friday in West Texas, burning…

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Drought conditions across much of the state fuel Central Texas wildfires

Drought conditions across much of the state fuel Central Texas wildfires

A fire in Ranger, Texas, has destroyed buildings in the city’s historic downtown, including the police department and a 100-year-old church. A wildfire in Abilene has prompted evacuations of homes and properties. Smoke has reached as far as Houston. Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Erin O’Connor says the Abilene fire has been dubbed the Eastland Complex. It consists of four fires that are being managed as a single blaze by firefighters. “That includes the Kidd…

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What's that smoky smell? Houstonians report acrid fumes as fires burn in Central Texas

What's that smoky smell? Houstonians report acrid fumes as fires burn in Central Texas

News // Houston & Texas The Eastland Complex fires in Central Texas are only 2 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.  Ariana Garcia March 18, 2022Updated: March 18, 2022 9:42 a.m. Flames quickly spread through dry grass west of Abilene, Texas near Old Highway 80 Thursday, March 17, 2022.  Ronald W. Erdrich If you woke to the smell of smoke hovering over the Houston area this morning, don’t be alarmed. Winds from the…

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Texas wildfire updates: What we're seeing in Eastland County as fires continue burning

Texas wildfire updates: What we're seeing in Eastland County as fires continue burning

WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain the sprawling fires. EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas — Wildfires in Eastland County had burned at least 40,000 acres by early Friday morning, and none of them had much containment as dry, windy conditions persisted.  WFAA had crews in Eastland County late into the night and also early Friday morning, as fire crews battled to contain…

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Hazy conditions, smell of smoke across Houston due to Texas wildfires

Hazy conditions, smell of smoke across Houston due to Texas wildfires

While tens of thousands of acres are burning in multiple Texas counties, the winds have blown the smoke into our region. HOUSTON — As tens of thousands of acres burn in multiple Texas locations, the smoke from those wildfires has moved into the Houston area, and that’s causing hazy conditions and a burning odor throughout the region, KHOU 11 Meteorologist Kim Castro said. Winds overnight shifted out of the northwest, bringing the thick air from…

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Eastland wildfires bring the smell of smoke into Houston

Eastland wildfires bring the smell of smoke into Houston

A wildfire near Abilene was causing a smoke smell in Houston on Friday, March 18, 2022. Smoke from wildfires near Abilene is blowing in to Houston, causing the smell wafting over the city Friday, weather officials said. Gusts from the northwest chasing out this week’s cold front are driving in smoke from fires in Eastland County, where a number of wildfires are causing massive damage over 62 miles. Smoke from #EastlandComplex to the SW of…

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Hazy conditions, smell of smoke across Houston due to west Texas wildfires

Hazy conditions, smell of smoke across Houston due to west Texas wildfires

Winds overnight shifted out of the northwest, bringing the thick air from just under a dozen fires that are burning primarily in west Texas. That fire consumed multiple structures in Ranger, Texas, overnight, including the police department building and a 100-year-old church there. By 7 a.m. winds out of the northwest were blowing into the Houston area at around 15 mph. Conditions were impacting some aviation operations in the region, though no commercial delays were…

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Wildfires scorch West Texas, prompting evacuations

Wildfires scorch West Texas, prompting evacuations

March 18, 2022Updated: March 18, 2022 6:38 a.m. 1of11A family walks through smoke down the Arnold Blvd. frontage road after evacuating the Continental Villa mobile home park in Abilene, Texas Thursday March 17, 2022. A quickly-moving grass fire was heading that way, prompting officials to order the evacuation. (Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News via AP)Ronald W. Erdrich/APShow MoreShow Less 2of11Flames quickly spread through dry grass west of Abilene, Texas near Old Highway 80 Thursday, March 17,…

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