IOWA, USA — Wildfires are raging down in the panhandle of Texas, and it is shaping up to be the largest wildfire in the state's history.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was only 3% contained, and it has burned over 850,000 acres of land. Texas has been seeing a similar weather pattern with Iowa. They have been dry, seen record-breaking temperatures, and also received high winds.
With that all combined, this wildfire has been incredibly difficult for firefighters to gain control of.
Nebraska has also seen a similar issue. On Monday, a mower sparked a fire, which quickly spread due to the dry, windy conditions. The fire grew to be about the size of Omaha, however, it is now over 70% contained and expected to be fully contained by Thursday.
Most of Iowa was under a Red Flag Warning on Monday, along with a few other states. On Thursday, there will be another Red Flag Warning starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 6 p.m.
What is a Red Flag Warning?
Red Flag Warnings get issued when there are wind gusts of 30+ mph and humidity levels less than 25%.
This means our fire danger level is at a very high to extreme level. With the ongoing drought, a wildfire can easily spark in these conditions.
Things to keep in mind during a Red Flag Warning
However, there are some precautions you can take to avoid fires from starting.
- Make sure your cigarettes are fully put out before throwing them away.
- Limit your use of firearms during high fire danger days. These can easily create a spark that can cause a fire to spread with these dry and windy conditions.
- Hold off on lawn mowing. The blades of the lawn mower could spark and create a fire like the one in Nebraska.
- Be mindful of driving or idling over patches of grass or out in a pasture. The heat from the vehicle's machinery can cause a fire to break out.
- Lastly, avoid creating any kind of open flames like campfires and burn piles. It is too dry to safely have those kinds of burns.
On top of that, check with your city and county to see if there are any specific burn bans in effect for your area.
If you happen to see a fire, report it to 911 immediately so firefighters have a chance to knock it out before it gets too large.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.