Breckenridge man among 3 killed in Texas Panhandle wildfire

State fire marshals are investigating the cause of the wildfire and the four fatalities.

Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions.

Fire activity was slowing across the region, but red flag warnings and fire weather watches, signifying serious fire conditions, were in effect into Wednesday afternoon from northern Iowa to northern Oklahoma, including nearly all of Missouri and Kansas, the National Weather Service said.

Crews are still working to assess damage and have estimated up to 100,000 acres burned.

At least two people have died as a result of multiple wildfires. Two of the firefighters are in critical condition, one is burned, and the fourth has a fracture, the news site reported.

By late Wednesday night, CNN was reporting that the Texas wildfires were responsible for five deaths and 325,000 burned acres.

A third, smaller fire near Amarillo was about 75 percent contained. All have been released from hospitals.

Gray County Judge Richard Peet said the three were rescuing cattle when they were overcome by smoke and flames. In Oklahoma, more than 400,000 acres burned. It’s the major east-west route across southern Florida. Area roads, including Interstate 76, were closed until Monday evening.

The largest evacuations were in Reno County, where 10,000 to 12,000 people voluntarily left their homes on Monday night.

The combination of strong winds, dry air and dormant vegetation in the central United States will continue to raise the risk of brush fires through midweek.

Lines of fire burned all around the Laverne area, and some structure fires were reported in and around Laverne, according to authorities.

Look at how the sudden wind direction change from the cold front yesterday changes the direction of the smoke from a wildfire.