After three weeks, the Texas Panhandle wildfires that killed three persons and left dead thousands of livestock, are completely contained.
The largest of the fires, the SmokeHouse Creek fire which swept into western Oklahoma, is reported totally under control. It was Saturday when Texas A&M Forest Service announced the fire was 100% contained after igning other blazes that burned more than 1 million acres of land in the two states.
“All state resources have been released and the fire has transitioned back to the local unit,” the forest service stated.
The Oklahoma Forestry Division reported Monday no new major wildfire activity. But it cautioned against growing dry conditions.
“Another strong drying day today across Oklahoma then fire danger concern elevates a bit on Tuesday with the return of southwest winds ahead of some rain chances midweek. After today, we return to above normal temperatures and southwesterly winds return tomorrow increasing fire danger
in the northwest and continuing across the northern counties.”
An attorney who filed one of half a dozen lawsuits over the Texas Panhandle wildfires says damages could easily top a billion dollars.
Attorney Kevin Isern pointed to the very broken power pole he claims caused the fires that eventually burned more than 1 million acres of land in the Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Three people died in the fires and thousands of cattle were killed as well.
KXAN TV reports that Isern represents nearly one third of the property owners who filed suit against Xcel Energy and one of its utility subsidiaries.
“When you start talking about damages for these type of things, you’re talking about not only grass, but fences, structures, animals. The tree loss is unbelievable. It is tremendous,” Isern said. “You can’t replant one hundred year-old cottonwood. And so a lot of what I call the “romance damages” are going to be through the roof.”
Click here for KXAN TV News