Texas is currently facing its second-largest wildfire in history, and farmers and ranchers are scrambling to protect their operations.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire broke out Monday and has now scorched more than 850,000 acres of land, already surpassing the total acreage affected in all of the Lone Star State last year.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for the state.
Turkey Track Ranch in Stinnett encompasses 80,000 acres and they had to cut down fences and let the cattle run. They are unsure of how many will be lost.
The flames spread so quickly due to the dry, warm, and windy conditions that dominated the Texas panhandle earlier this week.
Texas Commissioner of Ag, Sid Miller shares that he is deeply concerned about the wildfires saying: “These fires not only threaten lives and property but also have a significant impact on our ag industry. We stand in solidarity with our farmers and ranchers facing loss and destruction. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time and we’re committed to supporting their recovery efforts every step of the way.”
