Multiple grass fires were reported across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles on Thursday evening, April 9, with the suspected cause being dry lightning from the storms passing through the area.
In Texas, a vegetation fire sparked from lightning in Oldham County north of Vega, off U.S. Highway 385.
The Purple Monster Fire was an estimated 1,500 acres and 75% contained, as of 1:54 p.m. Friday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire reportedly had experienced shifting winds from the storms, and it was burning in thick grass and brush.
Crews worked through the night constructing lines around the entirety of the fire with heavy equipment, according to Juan Rodriguez with the Forest Service. Around 2:30 a.m., forward progress of the fire was stopped. Fire crews stayed and monitored the fire overnight.
The fire stayed within the perimeters and caused no issues to containment, Rodriguez said. On Friday morning, firefighters transitioned with the day shift, who will continue to patrol the fire as well as mop up any hot spots. Crews will also map the area to get a more accurate size of the fire, and aircraft will be collecting information to give to folks on the ground.
Another fire was reported in a remote area in Hutchinson County Friday morning. The No Roads fire was an estimated 40 acres and fully contained as of 2:39 p.m., according to the Forest Service.
In Carson County near the Hutchinson County line, a fire started Friday afternoon and was burning an estimated 125 acres near Borger as of 3:52 p.m., according to the Forest Service.
The National Weather Service in Amarillo said in a Friday update that a total of 36 fires were caused by lightning in Texas and Beaver County alone yesterday, in addition to several fires in the Texas Panhandle. “While the rain amounts may be a bit better today, we still could see frequent lightning strikes, some of which may occur outside of the main thunderstorm,” NWS said. “This certainly raises the concerns for more lightning caused starts across much of the Panhandles. Please make sure you have ways of getting alerts today, and be aware that in addition to the typical wind/hail threat, we have a threat fire ignitions as well.”
On Thursday evening, Hartley Fire & EMS reported another fire, burning an estimated 3,000 acres about three miles northeast of Boys Ranch. No structures were threatened. Units responding to the scene included Volunteer Fire Departments from Hartley, Dalhart and Channing.
More showers and storms were expected to move into the area Friday evening and overnight, according to NWS Amarillo. Multiple rounds of widespread storms will follow Saturday, with the higher severe risk in the southern Texas Panhandle and primary hazards of large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.
This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Dry lightning sparks wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
