A fast-spreading wildfire in Texas is causing a lot of problems. People had to leave their homes, and electricity got cut off. Even a nuclear weapons facility had to stop for a while.
This is the second-largest fire in Texas ever, burning 500,000 acres of land north of Amarillo city. The governor, Greg Abbott, declared it a disaster in 60 counties.
The fire started because the grass was dry, it was really hot, and the wind was strong. But the wind is a bit less now, which helps slow down the fire. There might be rain on Thursday, which could help put out the fire.
Many firefighters and emergency workers are trying to control the fire. It’s called the Smokehouse Creek Fire, and it has already burned a lot—500,000 acres. The biggest fire in 2006 burned more, over 900,000 acres.
Because of the fire, some towns, a part of Amarillo, and other places had to evacuate. The air is not good near Amarillo, so people are told to stay inside with their pets. The National Weather Service warns about the bad air.
Texas is also telling farmers about the fire’s impact on crops and animals. It’s a tough situation, and everyone is working hard to keep people safe and stop the fire.