Texas Battles Worst Wildfire in History: "Everything Is Gone"
- ‘You can’t describe how bad it is’: agriculture commissioner
- Utility’s stock drops on concern about power pole in fire zone
Smoke billows over a road during the Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas panhandle on February 27.
Photographer: Texas A&M Forest Service/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Texas emergency crews are battling the worst wildfire in state history amid forecasts for several more days of dry, windy weather that will make their task more difficult.
Tens of thousands of cattle already may have perished and entire ranches have been wiped out, said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. At least one person died due to the blaze — an octogenarian who was trapped in her home, according to multiple media reports. Meanwhile, utility owner Xcel Energy Inc.’s stock plummeted after it disclosed a law firm said it might be responsible for damages.