There are burned spots on Jay O’Brien’s ranch outside Stinnett that predate the Smokehouse Creek fire.
Over the last several months, small fires — ones that weren’t pushed by strong winds or grew out of control — scarred his pastures about 60 miles northeast of Amarillo.
“It does not get easier,” O’Brien said. “I’m an old man, I don’t remember growing up with the big wildfires. A wildfire of this magnitude has not happened before.”
As wildfires engulfed the Texas Panhandle in late February and early March, the world watched through social media. Videos showing cattle fleeing the apocalyptic scene were shared online, all while ranchers in the region worked to free their livestock and give them a fighting chance.
The fire quickly made global news. While it was much worse than past wildfires, flames encroaching on pastures has become a familiar sight for ranchers.
“What people read about are just the big ones,” O’Brien said. “It’s emotionally and financially challenging.”
O’Brien is one of many ranchers in the Texas Panhandle who lost thousands of acres in ranch land and cattle. His devastation, grief, and frustration echo others The Texas Tribune has spoken with since the wildfires broke out.
The wildfires disrupted life across small towns in part of the Panhandle known as Cattle Country. Texas is home to about 11 million head of cattle, and more than 85% of the state’s cattle population is located in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
In many of these towns, the cattle outnumber the people.
While the grassy hills are good for livestock, it also makes the land a tinderbox that could go up any moment. Since 2006, five of the largest wildfires in Texas history have burned nearly 2.7 million acres in the Panhandle, according to data from Texas A&M Forest Service.
State lawmakers are investigating the cause of the most recent fires. The bulk of the damage was from the Smokehouse Creek fire, which burned more than 1 million acres in the region. Texas A&M Forest Service said its investigators determined that power lines caused the fire, but didn’t detail how. Utility company Xcel Energy said it appeared that its equipment was involved in igniting that fire, but denied it was negligent in maintaining power lines.
The full extent of the damage is still unknown. Early estimates show more than 7,000 head of cattle died. The final number directly related to the fires could reach 10,000. The true total may not be known for months, as ranchers consider euthanizing cattle with severe injuries such as burnt hooves and udders. Ranchers are also being advised to watch for respiratory issues in their cattle.
With how bad the damage is though, the area will need ongoing support and monetary donations.
“This is a real tragedy,” Uhl said. “It will take years, not weeks, not months. Years.”
For O’Brien, the next step is managing what’s left. He said he’s blessed that while hurtful, the 60,000 lost acres and cattle is not as bad as others. Some of his cattle were able to escape the fire. He’s moved much of his livestock off the ranch, in hopes of letting the land recover.
Source: Texas Tribune BY Jayme Lozano Carver
Photo: Cattle stand in the burn scar from the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 3 in Hemphill County. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune
