First responders and crews from multiple agencies are battling a wildfire Friday, Aug. 7 in Oldham County north of Vega, off US 385 in the Texas Panhandle, and the highway was closed.
The Round Up Fire was an updated 300 acres in estimated total size and 20% contained as of 4:14 p.m. Friday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The Texas Department of Transportation issued a traffic alert about US 385 being closed from the Vega city limits to RM 1061 due to the wildfire. People were asked to avoid the area if possible, and TxDOT will release updated as more information becomes available.
Much of Oldham County was in the Extreme Drought stage, or the second highest level of drought recorded, according to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor released Aug. 6. However, storms were expected to track through the Texas Panhandle area later Friday and bring instances of flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service, after Thursday brought some instances of heavy rain from the severe weather.
The National Weather Service Amarillo office warned that increasing heat risks are expected for the next several days, with high temperatures reaching 100 in most areas with some areas as high as 107, Saturday into Wednesday. Nighttime lows will also only reach the upper 90s, which willl limit any relief from the heat.
The estimated 379-acre Roadside 5 Fire that broke out Wednesday in Carson County was fully contained Thursday afternoon.
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.
Kristina Wood is managing editor of the Amarillo Globe-News, whose coverage includes Amarillo and Canyon, and into the Texas Panhandle. Have a story idea? Send it in at newmedia@amarillo.com .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Crews battle wildfire in Texas Panhandle, US 385 closed
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
