Smokehouse Creek Fire

Smokehouse Creek Fire
Part of the 2024 Texas wildfires and 2024 Oklahoma wildfires
Smoke from the Smokehouse Creek Fire streams across a road on February 27, 2024
Date(s)February 26, 2024 – March 16, 2024
LocationTexas Panhandle and Oklahoma, United States
Coordinates35°50′52″N 101°25′57″W / 35.84778°N 101.43250°W / 35.84778; -101.43250
Statistics[1][2]
StatusExtinguished
Perimeter100% contained on
March 16 , 2024
Burned areaapprox. 1,058,482 acres (1,654 mi2; 428,352 ha)
Land useapprox. 2.5% developed
Impacts
Deaths2
Damage$1,000,000,000[3]
Ignition
CauseDowned power lines due to broken utility pole
Map

The Smokehouse Creek Fire was a record-breaking wildfire affecting the northeastern Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma that started on February 26, 2024. The fire affected numerous communities in Hemphill and Roberts counties, including the town of Canadian.[4][5] As of March 16, 2024, the fire had burned approximately 1,058,482 acres (1,654 mi2; 428,352 ha) before it was successfully contained,[1] making it the largest wildfire on record in Texas's history (going back to 1988) as well as the largest wildfire in the United States during 2024.[6] It was one of multiple fires during an outbreak of wind-driven wildfires in the Great Plains.

Progression

The Smokehouse Creek Fire began at approximately 2:20 p.m. CST on February 26, 2024, around one mile north of Stinnett, Texas by the intersection of County Road 11 and County Road O.[1] The cause of the fire was downed power lines due to a broken utility pole.[7] InciWeb records an ignition time of approximately 2:20 p.m. CST, but a heat signature was visible via the GOES-18 weather satellite as early as 12:56 p.m.[1] As the fire spread to the east, it crossed and engulfed northern portions of a stream called Smokehouse Creek, becoming its namesake.[1] The weather conditions over northern Texas at the time were highly conducive to the spread of fires, with unusually warm temperatures and gusty conditions prevailing over the region.[8][9] In return, The area scorched by the fire grew exponentially to 500,000 acres (780 mi2; 200,000 ha) within 12 hours of ignition as strong winds fanned the flames eastward at an extremely fast rate, reaching Roberts county by the end of the day and continuing to expand all night long.[10]

On February 27, 2024 In the morning hours, the fire was still reported to be expanding to the east, as it crossed into Hemphill county with mandatory evacuations in the communities of Canadian and Glazier. Fire behavior was noted as extreme by firefighters for the second consecutive day and Soon after these evacuations, the Smokehouse Creek Fire jumped the state line into Oklahoma prompting more evacuations on top of unrelated fires the same day.[11][12]

Following another increase in low-level winds, the fire was reported to be the second-largest Texas wildfire by the afternoon, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott's disaster declaration stated that 60 counties were affected by fast moving wildfires including the Smokehouse Creek fire.[13] An estimated eight hundred and fifty thousand acres were scorched.[14] By 4:00 pm CST, this number went up even more due to better mapping and was now reported to have burned 1,074,047 acres (1,678 mi2; 434,651 ha) with only 3% containment despite heavy firefighting efforts. It had become the largest fire in Texas state history, overtaking the East Amarillo Fort Complex Fire in 2006, which burned 907,245 acres and caused 12 fatalities in various Texas Panhandle cities. Containment rose steadily on the Smokehouse Creek fire in the coming days as fire behavior remained inside of the fire's boundaries and no growth was reported afterwards.

Effects

As of this final update in 2026 along with following inspections after the fire was fully contained, the Smokehouse Creek fire destroyed at least 30 houses in the town of Canadian, Texas, over 100 houses in Hutchinson County, Texas[15]And over 500 residential buildings and businesses in total. The fire's burn scar stretched for nearly 100 miles from its origin point and was 25 to 35 Miles wide for much of the way, and at least 11,000 people were left without power following the destruction of power lines and miscellaneous infrastructure. Two fatalities, Joyce Blankenship from Stinnett, Texas, and Cindy Owens from Amarillo, Texas, have been confirmed along with 15,000 cattle killed. animals were also reportedly saved from the flames[6][16][17][18]

Growth and containment table
Date Acres burned Containemnt
February 27 500,000 0% [5][19][20]
February 28 1,074,047 3% [19][21]
February 29 1,058,482 - [19]
March 1 1,075,547.98 15% [16][19]
March 2 1,076,638 15% [19]
March 3 1,076,638 15% [19]
March 4 1,059,570 37% [19]
March 5 1,059,570 37% [19]
March 6 1,058,482 44% [19]
March 7 1,058,482 74% [19]
March 8-10 1,058,482 87% [19]
March 11-15 1,058,482 89% [19]
March 16 Final size:

1,058,482

100% [19][22]

,*An estimated 31,000 acres in Oklahoma, 1,027,000 acres in Texas*

Lawsuits

In December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Xcel Energy to recover over $1 billion in economic damages, including property damage and the lost value of wildlife, as well as civil penalties for violations of Texas law.[23] Trial for the lawsuit is set to begin in April 2027. Ahead of the pending trial a judge issued a temporary injunction, ordering Xcel to replace damaged wooden electric distribution poles and inspect at least 35,000 poles per year.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Smokehouse Creek Fire Information". InciWeb. InciWeb. March 16, 2024. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Smokehouse Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". USA Today. Gannett. March 7, 2024. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "A Report to the House to Representatives 89th Texas Legislature" (PDF). Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  4. ^ "Smokehouse Creek Fire spreads over 40,000 acres; north of Stinnett". Borger News-Herald. February 27, 2024. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Gilbert, Mary; Sutton, Joe (February 27, 2024). "An explosive Texas fire more than doubles in size as it threatens towns and forces evacuations". CNN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Sutton, Joe; Almasy, Steve; Yan, Holly; Shackelford, Robert (February 29, 2024). "Deadly Texas wildfire torches 1 million acres – the largest blaze in state history – as more infernos rage out of control". CNN. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "Broken power pole and downed wires caused largest fire in Texas history, investigator says". NBC News. March 9, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (February 27, 2024). "Potent storm front fans fires in Plains and fuels Midwest tornado threat". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Lindstrom, Scott (February 28, 2024). "Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle". CIMSS Satellite Blog. Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies & University of Wisconsin-Madison. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  10. ^ Carver, Jayme Lozano (February 28, 2024) [February 27, 2024]. "Texas wildfires continue growing as firefighters struggle to contain massive Panhandle blazes". The Texas Tribune. Lubbock, Texas. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Catesby Fire - Wildfire and Smoke Map". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Greco, Jonathan (February 27, 2024). "Evacuations underway in northwestern Oklahoma after Texas' 'Smokehouse Creek Fire' crosses state lines". KOCO. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Greco, Jonathan (February 28, 2024). "Wildfires scorch Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle and briefly shut down nuclear weapons facility". KOCO News. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Rachel; Miller, Brandon (February 28, 2024). "Smokehouse Creek Fire grows, closing in on largest on record in Texas". CNN. Canadian, Texas. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Joe Sutton (February 28, 2024). "At least 100 homes impacted in 1 county, neighboring county official says". CNN. Hutchinson County, Texas. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Rebecca Cohen (February 29, 2024). "Texas wildfires live updates: 2 dead in largest blaze in state history". NBC. Hutchinson County, Texas. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Holley, Peter (March 6, 2024). "After a Wildfire Killed Thousands of Cows, Texas Ranchers Quietly Count Their Losses". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  18. ^ contributor, Bethany Blankley | The Center Square (June 3, 2024). "State investigation: 'Extensive failures' in largest wildfire in Texas history". The Center Square. Retrieved March 14, 2026. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts". Watch Duty. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  20. ^ Gilbert, Christina Maxouris,Elizabeth Wolfe,Eric Zerkel,Mary (February 27, 2024). "February 27-28, 2024 – Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Gilbert, Christina Maxouris,Elizabeth Wolfe,Eric Zerkel,Mary (February 27, 2024). "February 27-28, 2024 – Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Carver, Jayme Lozano (March 17, 2024). "Smokehouse Creek fire in Texas Panhandle 100% contained". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  23. ^ "Attorney General Paxton Sues Electric Company for Causing the Devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire that Led to the Deaths of Three Texans and Over $1 Billion in Damages". Texas Office of the Attorney General. December 16, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  24. ^ Penrod, Emma (February 26, 2026). "Xcel must begin pole replacement in Texas as court weighs Smokehouse Creek fire lawsuit". Utility Dive. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
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