Wildfires force evacuations amid dangerous winds and dust storms

Update: Monday at 10 p.m.

The Potter County Sheriff’s Office reported that Bishop Estates is under mandatory evacuation. All others residents who were evacuated may return to their homes.

Officials said winds may shift around midnight so residents should be mindful of changing situations.

PCSO said everything past Bishop Hills is off limits. Residents returning to Bishop Hills must check in with a deputy.

Update: Monday at 9:15 p.m.

Texas A&M Forest Service reported that the fire in Potter County has burned about 2,000 acres and was 10% contained.

Officials said the fire is moving northeast and structure protection efforts are underway.

Update: Monday at 7:07 p.m.

Texas A&M Forest Service reported that the fire in Potter County has burned about 500 acres and is 5% contained.

Aircrafts were called in to assist ground crews and firefighters are engaged in structure protection.

Update: Monday at 7 p.m.

The city of Kress has lifted its evacuation notice and residents may return to their homes. Officials ask that residents turn off water sprinklers to conserve water.

Original post:

Strong winds across the Texas Panhandle fueled dangerous wildfires and blinding dust storms Monday afternoon, forcing evacuations, road closures and power shutoffs in and around Amarillo as emergency crews worked to contain rapidly spreading flames.

The largest fire centered near the Amarillo city landfill, where heavy smoke billowed into the sky as flames spread into nearby neighborhoods west and northwest of the city. Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for several residential areas after conditions worsened during the afternoon. Residents in Bishop Estates, Two Deer Creek, Eagle Tree, Quail Canyon, Bishop Ranches, Alta Vista Estates, Dripping Springs and Silver Pointe were told to leave immediately as the wildfire advanced northeast.

Emergency management officials said the evacuation order was upgraded from voluntary to mandatory after the fire intensified under sustained high winds. Authorities warned that roads in the area could become blocked or heavily congested as residents attempted to flee. People were urged to take medications, important documents, pets and essential supplies before leaving.

A voluntary evacuation was also announced for Bishop Hills as fire crews monitored shifting conditions. The Church at Bushland opened its doors to evacuees seeking temporary shelter and assistance.

By late afternoon, the National Weather Service warned that the wildfire had grown significantly and was moving northeast at speeds between 5 and 10 mph. Areas near Bishop Hills, Wildcat Bluff and locations northeast of Tascosa Road were identified as being at risk. Emergency officials described the wildfire as life-threatening due to rapidly changing conditions and dense smoke.

The Amarillo city landfill closed early Monday because of the high winds, and flames eventually spread beyond the facility into surrounding grasslands and neighborhoods. At least one home was destroyed as firefighters battled to keep additional structures from catching fire. Several other homes remained threatened into the evening.

Road closures added to the chaos as transportation officials shut down RM 1061, also known as Tascosa Road, from State Loop 335 to Bushland Road. Authorities asked residents to stay away from the area to allow emergency responders room to operate safely.

The Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center also began evacuating animals and staff members as the fire approached nearby areas. The center announced the emergency relocation shortly before 5 p.m.

Power outages affected parts of the Amarillo area after Xcel Energy temporarily shut off electricity in several neighborhoods because of dangerous wildfire conditions. Bishop Hills, Bishop Estates and Tascosa Hills were among the communities impacted by the precautionary outage. By late afternoon, more than 2,000 customers across Texas were without power, including roughly 1,000 customers in the Amarillo region.

Meanwhile, another wildfire broke out near Kress, north of Plainview along Interstate 27. Evacuations were underway there as well, and U.S. 87 between Tulia and Kress was closed because of fire activity. Local officials arranged buses to transport residents from the school to Claytonville as a safety measure.

The severe weather also created hazardous driving conditions throughout Randall County and neighboring areas. A dust storm warning was issued Monday afternoon for parts of the central Texas Panhandle, including Canyon and stretches of Interstate 27 between Canyon and Amarillo.

The National Weather Service reported that strong southwesterly winds kicked up large amounts of dust and ash from the Hunggate Fire burn scar, reducing visibility to near zero in some locations. Winds exceeding 50 mph pushed the dust northeastward, creating dangerous travel conditions across major roadways.

The Randall County Sheriff’s Office announced closures along FM 1714 because of near-zero visibility caused by blowing dust. Drivers were also urged to avoid areas near FM 168 between Haley Road and Jowell Road.

Forecasters warned motorists to avoid traveling through dust storms whenever possible. Safety officials advised drivers caught in heavy dust to pull off the roadway, turn off vehicle lights and avoid using the brakes to reduce the risk of collisions.

Critical fire weather conditions remained in effect across the Texas Panhandle Monday evening under an ongoing red flag warning. Meteorologists cautioned that dry vegetation, low humidity and powerful winds could continue to fuel fast-moving fires and dangerous blowing dust into the night.