• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
State Of Emergency Declared In Texas As Wildfires Cause Mass Evacuation

Home> News

Published 16:16 19 Mar 2022 GMT

State Of Emergency Declared In Texas As Wildfires Cause Mass Evacuation

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an emergency order in 11 counties in the state.

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an emergency order in 11 counties in the state as wildfires have prompted evacuations.

Wildfires strengthened by drought conditions have burned through thousands of acres of land in central Texas, with fire crews yesterday struggling to contain the blazes as they destroyed homes and other buildings.

Fires were only 4% contained as of Friday afternoon, 18 March, with a spokesperson for Texas A&M Forest Service saying officials were yet to confirm how many structures may have burned.

Abbott issued the disaster declaration in response to the wildfire activity, with a letter sent to Secretary of State John B. Scott stating the fires began on 23 February and 'pose an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property in Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter, Randall, Reynolds, and Williamson counties.'

In the declaration, Abbott authorised the use of 'all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster', as well as the suspension of 'any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster'.

The only casualty so far reported in the blazes is that of sheriff’s deputy, Barbara Fenley, who is said to have been trying to save people from the fires, according to officials in Eastland County. It is unclear how or when Fenley died, but Abbott ordered flags in Eastland County to be lowered to half-mast in honour of Fenley.

Advert

In a statement, he said: "The State of Texas is working alongside local officials to respond to these critical fire conditions throughout several Texas counties. I commend the hard work and selfless acts of thousands of first responders and fire fighters who are risking their own lives to protect our communities.

"I also ask Texans to join me in praying for those who have been affected by these wildfires, including Eastland County Deputy Barbara Fenley who was tragically killed while trying to save lives. We will never forget her sacrifice, and the state will continue to work closely with first responders and local leaders to mitigate these fires and support our communities as they recover."

Shelters have been opened at a number of locations for those affected by the fires, with a list available on the Texas government website.

Advert

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]  

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/US Army National Guard/Sgt. 1st Class Malcolm McClendon

Topics: Texas, US News, Greg Abbott, Environment, Life

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Everything we know about Texas floods as 20 children still missing
  • Emotional father details finding body of young boy while looking for his missing daughter in Texas floods
  • Hero dad left heartbreaking goodbye voicemails to his kids before tragically dying in Texas floods
  • Horrifying timelapse footage shows just how quickly Texas flash flood happened as search continues for missing girls

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Flesh-eating bacteria leaves 4 people dead in Florida as health officials issue warning

    The deaths occurred across four Florida counties

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Man who lured victims for the 'Candy Man' serial killer speaks out for the first time

    Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. was a teenager when he began working with Dean Corll

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    People are discovering dark meaning behind Nike’s 'Just Do It' slogan

    It has nothing to do with Shia LaBeouf's motivational speech

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Royal Caribbean issues statement after mystery illness takes over ship travelling from USA to Mexico

    The CDC is investigating the cause of the breakout

    News