Wildfire hearings conclude in Texas Panhandle with criticism of state firefighting agencies

Craig Cowden gives testimony to the house committee investigating the Panhandle wildfires Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Pampa.

 

Those legislators who held an investigation into the Texas Panhandle wildfires that left 3 persons dead and more than a million acres burned got an earful of complaints from residents as a hearing concluded recently in the city of Pampa, Texas.

Residents complained loudly about state agencies and their failure to communicate about the fires that not only resulted in the deaths of three residents but killed an estimated 10,000 head of cattle. Complaints came from landowners, ranchers and volunteer firefighters.

The wildfires spread into western Oklahoma as well but no deaths were reported in Oklahoma. The state legislature in Oklahoma did not respond with a legislative investigation.

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