Fires are blazing across Texas causing incredible damage.
April 20, 2011- One official said the fires were burning from border to border. Bone dry weather conditions and high winds are making the firefighters work even more difficult. The fires are spreading quicker than the firefighters can control them. Because of long-term drought, gusty winds and high temperatures ideal conditions have been present for the fires to spread.
Firefighters from more than 35 states are working around the clock to try and contain the fires. Just Tuesday the firefighters had to respond to 11 new fires across the area that on top of those that are already wreaking havoc with reports that more than 200 homes have been destroyed since the fires broke out.
The fires are getting dangerously close to Ft. Worth one of the largest cities in Texas with a population of just under 750,000. Chances are the fires will not make it to the city, but will cause devastating damage in the surrounding areas. Dallas is also close to where the fires are and yesterday four fires merged to create one large fire that reports said had 40ft high flames and ash was raining from the sky.
Fire retardant has been dropped from planes as well as water while homes that are being threatened are being doused with water to protect them. Possum Kingdom State Park was closed and residents around the Possum Kingdom Lake had been evacuated. That area has various fires that are approaching at any given time and is a high risk area.
Weather reports call for a 30% chance of rain on both Thursday and Friday and those conditions could aid the firefighters be easing the conditions they are now under. The Texas Governor has asked President Obama to declare the entire state a Major Disaster Area in order to free up federal funds to help protect the citizens and their homes.
