Texas Panhandle wildfires will affect cattle ranchers for years to come as firefight continues

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services is working to deploy feed, fence supplies and more needs for ranchers devastated by the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. Xcel Energy said its power equipment may have started the largest wildfire in Texas history.

STINNETT, Texas – Firefighters across the Texas Panhandle are still attacking several large wildfires - including the record-sized Smokehouse Creek fire – possibly sparked by power equipment last week, as resources from around the country are being sent in to help cattle ranchers who lost land and cattle to the flames.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services is working to deploy feed, fence supplies and more needs for ranchers devastated by the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. There are donation centers set up in eight counties impacted by the fires and supply points for feed and ranch supplies. A full list of locations and supplies needed can be found here

FOX News Digital reports Texas ranchers unaffected by the fires are also organizing efforts to help those devastated by the fires. 

Rancher Navy co-founder Morgan Broome told FOX News Digital the group has brought in nearly 40,000 bales of hay for cattle to the Texas Panhandle region.

Meanwhile, firefighters continue working to contain and extinguish the largest wildfire in Texas history.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire, which broke out north of the town of Stinnett, continues to rage across the region after quickly exploding in size, becoming a historic fire in a matter of days.

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Progress has been made in containing the blaze. As of Thursday, the Smokehouse Creek Fire has scorched nearly 1.06 million acres and is now 74% contained.

On Thursday, Xcel Energy released a statement saying the Texas power provider is cooperating with the investigation into the start of the Texas wildfires and completed its own review.

"Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire," the company said.

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The fire has so far scorched more than 1 million acres across Texas and Oklahoma. At least two people have died, while flames have burned more than 500 structures, killed countless livestock and destroyed thousands of acres of grass needed by ranchers to feed their cattle.

Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said that damage assessments continue, but at least 47 families have lost their homes. 

Kidd said even with containment improving, the danger remains when the winds are expected to return.

"The men and women that are out there right now doing everything they can to put a perimeter around that, so as we see three different wind shifts just in today's weather and additional fire weather coming in Thursday and Friday," Kidd said on Wednesday. "We do not want any escape embers getting out of that and starting a new fire."

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Critical fire threat ends

This week brought some good news for the hundreds of people waging war against the wildfires as weather conditions have started to improve and the critical wildfire threat has eased.

A storm system moving out of the Rockies late this week could intensify over the southern Plains, allowing moisture to be pulled north into the fire-ravaged region.

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Firefighters battle parts of the reignited Smokehouse Creek fire outside of Miami, Texas on Saturday, Mar 02, 2024. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

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Members of the Texas A&M Forest Service watch as a plane drops fire retardant a portion of the Smokehouse Creek Fire on Saturday, Mar 02, 2024, in Hemphill County, Texas after high winds caused a flare up to reignite  the record breaking fire. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

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A grass fire reignited on Sunday, Mar 03, 2024 endangering the town of Sanford, Texas that had to be evacuated until further notice.  (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

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Firefighters actively suppress a new fire start on March 3, 2024, west of Sanford, Texas (M. Mahurin/Texas A&M Forest Service/Facebook)

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A firefighter extinguishes hotspots following the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Miami, Texas, US, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. 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. Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images ( )

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Charred ranch land following the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Miami, Texas, US, on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The Smokehouse Creek fire in Texas is the largest in the state's history and has consumed more than 1 million acres (405,000 hectares), according to Texas A&M Forest Service with dry gusts up to 50 miles per hour sweeping across Texas and the Plains through Sunday. Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images ( )

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SANFORD, TEXAS - MARCH 03: Firefighters battle flames from the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 03, 2024 near Sanford, Texas. The fire has burned more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle, killing at least two people and destroying more than 500 structures.  (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) ( )

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This image shows the Roughneck Fire near Sanford, Texas, on Sunday, March 3, 2024. (IFMAS / City of New Braunfels FD via @AllHazardsTFS/X)

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 02: Charred remains of automobiles sit behind a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek fire when it burned its way through town last Tuesday on March 02, 2024 in Stinnett, Texas. The fire has burned more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle, killing at least two people and destroying more than 500 structures. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 03: Firefighters prep their truck outside the firehouse on March 03, 2024 in Stinnett, Texas. The Smokehouse Creek fire has burned more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle, killing at least two people and destroying more than 500 structures. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt vehicles after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: An aerial view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt vehicles after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: An aerial view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt vehicles after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: An aerial view of burnt area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) ( )

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STINNETT, TEXAS - MARCH 1: A view of burnt vehicles after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas on March 1, 2024. At least 2 dead as largest wildfire in state history tears through Texas Panhandle.  (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu)

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A road closed sign blocks a burned out gravel road damaged by the Smokehouse Creek Fire Saturday, Mar 02, 2024, in Roberts County, Texas.  (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

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Flames can been seen engulfing a field as high winds reignited parts of the Smokehouse Creek fire outside of Miami, Texas on Saturday, Mar 02, 2024.  (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

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A grass fire reignited on Sunday, Mar 03, 2024 endangering the town of Sanford, Texas that had to be evacuated until further notice. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications) (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

Rain could then break out behind that system as it strengthens.

The FOX Forecast Center said the precipitation that could fall would be a welcome relief for those trying to extinguish the fires.

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Other fires burn in Texas Panhandle

Several other fires continue to burn across the Texas Panhandle.

As of Thursday, the Grape Vine Creek Fire is still at 96% containment and has burned 34,882 acres.

The Windy Deuce Fire, which has burned 144,206 acres, is 89% contained.

There was another fire called the 687 Reamer Fire, which was absorbed by the Smokehouse Creek Fire last week.