Two people have died in Texas as it grapples with the largest wildfire in its history, according to a new disaster assessment. The American president, Joe Biden, attributed the event to the effects of climate change.
An 83-year-old woman died when her house caught fire in the small town of Stinnett. But a 44-year-old woman succumbed yesterday, Thursday after being seriously injured when the truck she was driving was engulfed in flames in Smokehouse Creek. The first information was relayed by a Texas public safety official who was cited by local media today.
The Forest Service’s latest report says 5,098,000 acres have burned in total from the fires. Eleven of them have already been contained (still burning, but not progressing) and another twelve have been brought under control.
According to the Texas Forest Service, five fires remain “active” in the northern part of the state. The largest focus, Smokehouse Creek, had already burned about 4,350,000 acres yesterday, Thursday. However, it is still only “5%” contained, and is now affecting a portion of neighboring Oklahoma.
What do the authorities say about the event?
Owners of Turkey Track Ranch, which is located in the area, said they lost 80 percent of their 320,000-acre property.
“We believe the loss of livestock, crops and wildlife, as well as other infrastructure on our property and other farms and residences in the area, is unprecedented in our history,” they said in a statement carried by ABC News.
Firefighters fear the situation could worsen over the weekend as winds are expected in hot and dry conditions.
According to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers, the fire is moving at the speed of two football fields per second.
President Biden, who is on a campaign visit to Texas on immigration, told reporters that 500 federal workers are active in the battle against the fires, in addition to local firefighters.
Cities in the United States and Canada recorded record temperatures in February. Some areas even experienced summer heat waves. According to experts, the El Niño phenomenon is responsible for this, in addition to climate change.
“I love that some of my Neanderthal friends still believe there is no climate change,” quipped Joe Biden, alluding to his climate-change-skeptic Republican rivals.
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