More than a month after the Stinky Fire tore through parts of Potter County, destroying 52 homes and impacting 77 properties, according to officials, county leaders and recovery organizations are shifting their focus from emergency response to long-term recovery.
During a Potter County Commissioners Court meeting Monday, emergency management officials, disaster recovery partners and community advocates provided a comprehensive review of the wildfire response while outlining what comes next for residents still struggling to recover from one of the area's most destructive recent fires.
A key message emerged from the meeting: wildfire victims have only a short time left to connect with available recovery resources.
Texas Panhandle Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is urging anyone affected by the Stinky Fire to seek assistance before July 1, when the organization begins transitioning from immediate disaster response into longer-term recovery operations.
The meeting also provided commissioners and attending residents with a detailed review of how emergency officials responded to the fire, why certain emergency notifications were used, what recovery efforts have accomplished so far and what lessons may be learned through an upcoming after-action review.
Reviewing the Response
Max Dunlap, Potter County Emergency Management Coordinator and director of the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management, presented county leaders with a timeline of events surrounding the fire and the response that followed.
According to Dunlap, the briefing was intended to provide commissioners with a clearer understanding of the county's actions before, during and immediately after the wildfire.
“Regards to evacuations, regards to when Potter County actually responded to it, the actual timeline of when the event started, which was the Sunday before that, on the 17th, and explaining some of the timeline of the next 36 hours went through,” Dunlap said.
The Stinky Fire began on May 17 under dangerous weather conditions that had already placed emergency officials on heightened alert.
Judge Nancy Tanner signed a Local State of Disaster Declaration on May 15, two days before the fire ignited. Dunlap explained that the declaration was recommended because of ongoing fire activity throughout the region and forecasts indicating additional wildfire risk.
While many residents associate disaster declarations with federal assistance, Dunlap emphasized that the declaration itself does not automatically unlock aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Instead, he said, the declaration allows the state to mobilize resources and provide assistance more rapidly.
Dunlap said FEMA individual assistance is not automatically triggered by a local disaster declaration. According to Dunlap, Texas would need to exceed roughly $53 million in uninsured losses before individual assistance from FEMA could become available.
Conditions Were Primed for Disaster
One of the most significant details shared during the meeting involved the extreme wildfire conditions that existed before the fire began.
Dunlap said the Emergency Operations Center monitors a Red Flag Threat Index, or RFTI, which measures wildfire danger levels.
The center's activation threshold is five.
On the day the Stinky Fire started, the index had reached seven.
“Which indicates extreme impacts if something were to happen. It’s an indicator. It can be bad if something were to happen. Therefore, our team stood up before the fire started and remained stood up, continuing response from Randall County and remained activated to support this fire,” Dunlap said.
He further described how unusual such conditions were.
“Having an RFTI of seven is very uncommon,” Dunlap said. “That number indicates pretty much if something happens, it is not going to be good.”
The Emergency Operations Center had already been activated because of fires burning in Randall County and remained staffed and operational when the Stinky Fire ignited.
According to Dunlap, Potter County Dispatch received the first call about the fire at 3:34 p.m. on May 17, and county units arrived on scene within eight minutes.
By 4:10 p.m., assistance from state agencies, including the Texas A&M Forest Service, had been requested.
Evacuations and Emergency Notifications
As the fire grew, emergency officials relied on multiple communication methods to alert residents and coordinate evacuations.
On May 18, after the fire crossed the landfill fence line, a mandatory evacuation order was issued through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, which sends emergency notifications directly to cell phones within a designated geographic area.
However, Dunlap noted that not every resident receives those alerts.
The notifications depend on users leaving emergency alert settings enabled on their devices.
He said some people disable emergency alerts because they feel overwhelmed by frequent notifications, including Amber Alerts and weather warnings.
“Notification fatigue is something we take and try to mitigate as much as possible,” Dunlap said. “However, those notifications are there for a reason.”
Emergency officials also issued a fire warning through the National Weather Service, which distributed the information to local television and radio stations.
Questions from residents about warning sirens also surfaced during the response.
Dunlap explained that while sirens have historically been used in some evacuation situations, no siren system currently exists in the area impacted by the Stinky Fire.
He said discussions have already begun about whether future warning infrastructure should be considered, including possible installation of sirens in neighborhoods such as Bishop Estates.
The challenge, he noted, is cost.
According to Dunlap, sirens can cost approximately $50,000 each.
Debris Removal Presents New Challenge
As recovery efforts continue, officials are also working through the complex issue of debris removal.
Dunlap said the Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with state officials on plans for debris disposal in the burn area. Some destroyed homes may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead-based paint, requiring special handling.
Because of those concerns, some debris cannot be disposed of at the Amarillo landfill and may need to be transported to the hazardous materials landfill in Canyon.
The debris-removal process is expected to be one of the major recovery challenges in the months ahead as property owners begin cleanup and rebuilding efforts.
The Long Road to Recovery
While emergency responders focused on containing the wildfire, recovery organizations immediately began working to help displaced residents rebuild their lives.
Janell Evans, director of the 2-1-1 Texas Panhandle United Way Helpline and chairperson of Texas Panhandle VOAD, outlined the extensive recovery efforts that have taken place since the disaster.
She reported that recovery partners have entered 41 requests for assistance into the disaster recovery system.
All 41 requests have been assigned to recovery organizations for follow-up action.
Additionally, 40 households have been connected to disaster case management services, while 21 homeowners have been temporarily rehoused through a partnership with Airbnb.
“Through our partner agencies, survivors have received food, water, clothing, household supplies, hygiene items, mental health support, insurance guidance, legal assistance, cleanup services, and disaster case management,” Evans said.
She highlighted the contributions of numerous organizations involved in recovery efforts.
Volunteers from organizations such as Texans on Mission assisted with debris removal and ash-out operations. Additional support has come from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, High Plains Food Bank, Texas Panhandle Centers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and other community partners.
“The collaboration we have seen throughout this response has been extraordinary,” Evans said. “Our partners have come together to provide immediate relief, emotional support, housing assistance, cleanup services, household supplies, and recovery planning for families impacted by these devastating fires. While significant progress has been made, our work is not yet complete.”
July 1 Deadline Approaching
The most urgent issue discussed Monday involved a looming deadline for residents seeking disaster assistance.
VOAD officials are encouraging anyone affected by the fire to make contact before July 1.
Evans explained that the organization is approaching the 45-day mark following the disaster and must begin transitioning its operations.
“July 1st, we are looking 45 days past the disaster, and so any immediate needs should have been met that are going to be met because they have requested,” Evans said. “At our 45-day mark, we are fixing to move from immediate to short-term/long-term recovery.”
She described the deadline as critical for ensuring residents can be connected with available services before recovery efforts move into a different phase.
“We do have to have a cut-off to move forward,” Evans said.
Importantly, assistance is available to more people than some residents may realize.
“We are able to assist anyone that was affected by the fire in general; they don’t just have to have lost their home… just if they were displaced at any point in time because of the fire, we have resources available for them,” Evans said.
Available assistance may include relocation help for renters, short-term housing support, replacement clothing and furnishings, hygiene supplies, food assistance, utility reconnection support, debris cleanup coordination, disaster case management and mental health services.
Only individuals directly impacted by the disaster—or those specifically authorized to act on behalf of survivors—can request assistance.
Officials emphasized that protecting the privacy of victims remains a priority.
Some Survivors Have Yet to Connect With Recovery Resources
Evans said some wildfire survivors still have not connected with recovery organizations.
According to Evans, VOAD's initial ability to identify and contact those affected depended largely on iSTAT forms completed by survivors, information provided through the American Red Cross and attendance at the multi-agency resource center held shortly after the fire.
She said some residents have not responded to outreach attempts, while others have expressed concern that accepting assistance could affect future insurance settlements or legal claims.
Recovery officials stressed that available assistance is intended to help families address immediate needs and does not prevent them from pursuing other recovery options.
Legal Questions Continue
Some fire victims remain focused on potential legal action related to the disaster.
Brian Farabough, a partner with Lovell, Isern & Farabough, LLP, said the firm is investigating and pursuing claims against the City of Amarillo on behalf of residents affected by the fire.
Farabough said wildfire victims should not delay obtaining help while waiting for potential litigation outcomes.
He advised survivors to document assistance received but not avoid needed support simply to preserve a higher damages figure.
According to Farabough, the firm has already provided notice to the city involving 57 claims, some of which represent multiple individuals. He estimated that more than 100 people are currently being advised by the firm regarding the matter.
He added that the window remains open for additional clients.
Agriculture Recovery Continues
The wildfire's impact extended beyond homes and structures.
Agricultural operations and livestock owners also suffered losses.
Megan Eikner, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension coordinator for Potter County, detailed efforts undertaken to support ranchers and livestock owners following the disaster.
After reporting to the Emergency Operations Center on May 18, Eikner began coordinating agricultural and livestock assistance with county officials.
Safety concerns initially prevented extension personnel and volunteers from entering the area.
Once conditions improved, assessments began on May 19.
Teams provided feed and water to animals and identified livestock suffering from both minor and severe burns requiring treatment.
The extension office also replaced two storage tanks destroyed in the fire through funding provided by the Amarillo Area Foundation.
By June 1, Eikner reported that feed and fencing supplies had been provided to approximately eight families, while additional needs continued to be identified.
“It’s really important that we be very careful and ensure that we are handling donated funds properly,” Eikner said. “I know things can seem slow sometimes, but it’s for the good of all that the agencies that are responsible for helping ensure that gets to the proper place have to go through protocol to do so.”
Learning From the Disaster
While recovery remains the immediate focus, county officials are already evaluating how future responses can be improved.
Dunlap discussed plans to develop an after-action report, a comprehensive review process used by emergency management agencies following significant incidents.
“The after-action report is a document highlighting areas that needed to be improved, as well as highlighting areas that were effectively done or strengths,” Dunlap said.
He explained that agencies involved in the response will gather feedback and analyze what worked well and what did not.
“We come together and discuss what we feel what went really well, what didn’t go so well, and then that document is produced, and then from that document an improvement plan is created,” Dunlap said.
The resulting improvement plan will identify specific issues, assign responsibility for corrective actions and establish timelines for implementation.
Dunlap cautioned that there is no set deadline for completing the report.
Depending on the scope of review and the number of agencies involved, the process could take weeks or even months.
Potential topics for evaluation include public notification systems, evacuation procedures, emergency communications and infrastructure investments such as warning sirens.
Preparing for Future Disasters
While much of the meeting focused on recovery, officials also emphasized the importance of preparedness and learning from the disaster.
Dunlap said the upcoming after-action report will examine every aspect of the response, including emergency notifications, evacuation procedures, communications systems and whether future infrastructure investments—such as warning sirens in vulnerable areas—should be considered.
“That is why the emergency management plan for each county and each business and organization is so essential so we can be prepared,” Evans said.
She said preparedness efforts help ensure residents understand emergency alerts, evacuation procedures and what items should be taken if they are forced to leave their homes quickly.
As Potter County continues rebuilding, officials hope lessons learned from the Stinky Fire will improve future disaster response and strengthen community resilience across the region.
Evans also noted that long-term rebuilding assistance may eventually become available through partnerships with organizations such as the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, which provides disaster case management and rebuilding support.
However, she cautioned that recovery is a lengthy process. Following assessments and coordination with homeowners, rebuilding efforts through those programs could take at least 12 to 18 months before construction begins.
Residents affected by the Stinky Fire who have not yet connected with recovery organizations are being urged to do so before the July 1 deadline. Recovery officials said assistance may still be available for housing needs, utilities, food assistance, household items, debris cleanup, mental health services and case management.
To connect with Texas Panhandle VOAD, wildfire survivors can call 806-316-6204 or email texaspanhandlevoad@gmail.com.
Officials emphasized that recovery remains ongoing and encouraged anyone affected by the fire—even those who did not lose a home but were displaced or otherwise impacted—to reach out before the transition to longer-term recovery efforts begins.
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