Two individuals have perished in Texas due to the largest fire in the state’s history, a disaster that US President Joe Biden attributes to the effects of climate change.
In addition to an 83-year-old woman who died in her home in the small town of Stinnett, a 44-year-old woman succumbed to serious injuries on Thursday after her truck was engulfed by the flames, according to local media reports citing a Texas Department of Public Safety official.
The latest report from the Forest Service indicates that the fire has consumed a total of 509,800 hectares, with 11 fires contained and about 12 others under control.
The Texas Forest Service stated that five fires remain “active” in the northern part of the state, with the largest hotspot, Smokehouse Creek, being contained.
Officials at the “Turkey Track” farm in the area reported an 80% loss of their 32,000-hectare property.
In a statement relayed by ABC News, they estimated that “the loss of livestock, crops, wildlife, and other infrastructure on our property and other farms and homes in the area is unprecedented in our history.”
Firefighters fear the situation could worsen over the weekend due to anticipated winds amid hot and dry conditions.
CNN meteorologist Chad Myers noted that the fire is moving rapidly, covering the equivalent of two football fields per second.
President Joe Biden, who is visiting Texas on immigration matters, told reporters that 500 federal officials are working alongside local firefighters to combat the blazes.
He stated that he asked his team to help protect those in areas threatened by these fires, promising federal aid for Texas and Oklahoma.
Numerous cities in the United States and Canada experienced record-breaking temperatures in February, with some nearing summer-like levels. Experts attribute this to the El Niño phenomenon, compounded by climate change.
