The grass fire that started at the Oldham-Hartley-Moore County line Tuesday spread toward Potter County overnight after the winds shifted, prompting road closures and evacuations.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Yellow Fire was an estimated 14,208 acres and 55% contained as of 8:56 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, located northwest of Amarillo.
A fire warning had originally been issued for north of Boys Ranch at 6:16 a.m. but expired. Another fire warning was issued at 12:22 p.m., per a request from the Oldham County Emergency Management, for northwestern Oldham County.
The warning said the dangerous wildfire was located over Boys Ranch, or 22 miles northeast of Vega, moving rapidly southward at 3 to 5 mph. Areas impacted include parts of Oldham County including Boys Ranch and Tascosa Road, where smoke and fire will present a threat to life and property. People were advised to be prepared to evacuate and follow all safety instructions from local officials, and also to not drive into smoke. An evacuation in Boys Ranch was also ongoing, per officials.
A red flag warning was also issued for the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, which is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Voluntary evacuations began in the early hours Wednesday, March 11 for Ady, Chuck Wagon, Trail End, Pond, Broken Spur and parts of Tascosa Road, as well as Valle de Oro and the LIT headquarters, with Tascosa Road being closed.
The Texas Department of Transportation said in a 5:50 a.m. traffic alert that RM 1061 was closed at FM 2381 due the wildfire, and people were asked to avoid the area. The Potter County Sheriff’s Office said that the area around U.S. Highway 385 was also being shut down to traffic while fire crews respond to the scene.
It was the fourth named fire for the Texas Panhandle since Sunday, March 8, with multiple agencies responding to contain the blazes.
The Yellow Fire sparked up around 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in Oldham County between Channing and Dumas off State Highway 354. The road was closed at the U.S. Highway 385 intersection due to the fire but reopened Wednesday morning. People were still urged to avoid the area if possible.
One home in Moore County was also evacuated.
The National Weather Service in Amarillo issued a high wind warning for most of the region Wednesday, with possible wind gusts up to 65 mph and sustained strong winds at 30 to 40 mph.
A hazardous weather outlook was also issued for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, with strong winds expected to follow behind the cold front continuing into Wednesday afternoon. The outlook noted that Thursday through Monday, elevated to critical fire weather is expected to be possible each afternoon, as dry and warm conditions remain present into next week. According to the weather service, the forecast is showing temperatures will rise into the 80s to near 90 degrees by Saturday, March 14.
Local agencies have responded to the scene of the fire, including Texas A&M Forest Service, Hartley VFD, Dalhart VFD, Channing VFD, Texas Forest Service Strike Teams and others also assisting on the scene, including the Texas Department of Public Safety.
On Sunday, March 8 the Maroon Fire began south of Channing and burned about 745 acres in in Oldham and Hartley counties, north of the site of the Lavender Fire in February. U.S. Highway 385 from Channing to Boys Ranch had been closed while first responders worked to contain the fire.
The Cabin Creek Fire in Gray County remained was estimated 6,949 acres and was fully contained, according to the Forest Service.
The Eastern Fire in Randall County was about 78 acres and fully contained.
The Little Fire that sparked Tuesday south of Canadian in Hemphill County grew to about 401 acres before it was fully contained.
This story has been updated with additional information.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Yellow Fire grows to estimated 14,200 acres in Texas Panhandle
Reporting by Nell Williams and Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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