In what is looking like the worst fire disaster in the Amarillo-Canyon area in history, the totals are horrific.
Max Dunlap, Amarillo Emergency Management Director, shared details of the damage that was surveyed at a press conference at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 for the recent fire in Potter County, which ravaged the developments off Tascosa Road May 17 through 19 and left a horrific scene.
Damage reports show, in total, 52 homes were destroyed — one home had major damage, seven homes had minor damage and 17 were affected in some way by the fire, aided by 50-60 mph winds.
“It brings it to a total of 77 homes that were touched in some way by this fire,” Dunlap said, verifying that the figures were only including homes, not other buildings such as barns and sheds.
Dunlap joined a somber team of leaders including Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner, Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas, and Potter County Fire Chief Richard Lake to deliver the devasting news.
“It’s extremely heart-sinking with this damage, but there were numerous homes that were saved from efforts of the fire chief and his team along with fire personnel on the ground,” he said. “When we see some of the footage that we saw in the Operation Center, it was very, very hard earned on that (saving those houses).”
Help available for fire victims
Dunlap listed some of the resources for folks who have been displaced by the fires.
“If you need immediate long-term housing, there’s help and resources out there. One of those is through the Amarillo Area Foundation, which will be taking monetary donations,” he said.
Monetary donations are preferred over physical items at this point, because there has not been a request for physical donations. However, if you are making a physical donation, it can be done at the Downtown Women’s Center Thrift City, located at 812 SW 10th Ave., Bushland ISD, or at Potter County Fire Station No. 3 at 4150 N. Soncy.
“If you find yourself immediately in need of long-term housing, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) has secured a partnership with Airbnb for those who are immediately affected,” Dunlap said.
He advised those in need to call 2-1-1 and ask about their long-term housing program, and they will set people up.
Evacuations lifted, power restored but still dangerous
“As of 4 p.m. today, May 20, all evacuations have been lifted,” Dunlap announced, “and people are welcome to head back to their homes.”
Dunlap asked those heading back to their homes to exercise caution due to the fact that it is still a dangerous area. “Power has been restored to the extent that it can be at this moment,” he added.
As of 3:06 p.m., the Stinky Fire was 85% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service and had burned 2,335 acres.
Thomas asked people who don’t live out in the affected area to not go out there, saying that a lot of law enforcement is still out there along with other responders securing the area and need room to get around.
“Thankfully, we have all the Xcel Energy trucks out, but there are other fire agencies, state and federal still doing assessments, and they need that room.”
“Put yourself in those people’s shoes. If it was your house that burned down, would you want people driving by taking pictures of it?” he said.
Sheriff Thomas said that officers will still be patrolling Bishop Estates, Bishop Hills, the Indian Hills area, and Eagle Tree, “which have all been put on beat checks, so their guys will be checking each one of those on every shift, more than once.”
The sheriff noted that they had put a message out on Facebook that if people see someone they don’t recognize in their block, or don’t know who they are and why they’re there, to contact the Potter County Sheriff’s Office.
Thomas said that they have had great success with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks & Wildlife and Game Wardens, who are helping because the first responders have been working 36 hours and need rest.
The sheriff warned that rain could be good, but with topsoil gone, it could cause flooding out there and add to the problems.
The next steps for first responders
An update on fire suppression operations was delivered by Chief Lake, who said, “We have had not only Potter County, but many of usual aid departments as Texas A&M Forest Service, who had a continual presence in the neighborhood that was affected by this fire from the time it started until 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 20. At that time, we are going to pull all fire apparatus out of that area to let everybody recover for a night, and we are going to start a rotating shift of engines that will drive through the neighborhood to continually keep a check on it.”
Chief Lake said that they will have a Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, or TIFMAS, Strike Team that is attached to the Texas A&M Forest Service that will be in that neighborhood patrolling tomorrow during daylight hours.
“After that, we’re hoping that we’re going to be able to call this fire contained and pull resources off of it. Most likely for the next few days, there’ll be a heavy presence of trucks continually rotating through the neighborhood, just keeping an eye on everything and being there to provide assistance if it’s needed,” Lake said.
Judge Tanner thanked all the individuals and entities that helped with the fire disaster and asked for more prayers for the ones who suffered losses.
In closing, Dunlap said, “This is our home. We fight for it every day. We fight for those next to us and fight for those in front of us. Always.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Recent fire could be most destructive in Amarillo area history
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
