Immediate Vault Immediate Access

Texas Burning from Border to Border

Residents of Texas have not had it too easy this month. A couple of weeks ago, they endured severe thunderstorms with tornadoes and golf ball-sized hail, which caused an estimated $100 million in damage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Now, the state is dealing with more than 20 out of control wildfires that have scorched more than 1.

5 million acres and destroyed at least 224 homes. Even worse, the Insurance Council of Texas declared there was “no end in sight” to the raging fires.

Many of the 20 wildfires currently being fought by firefighters in the western half of the state remain out of control.

Gov. Rick Perry says 252 Texas counties are presently threatened or impacted by wildfires.
There are 254 counties in Texas. Firefighters from Texas and nearby states, as well as the National Guard with the help of Apache helicopters and military cargo planes, have battled more than 7,800 fires that have destroyed 244 homes since the wildfire season started, ICT reports.

Texas Forest Service spokeswoman April Saginor told CNN Radio that the state is burning from “border to border.” Though most of the state is expected to get a break today from the high winds, parts of central and east Texas are bracing for another round of severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes.

Can the state catch a break?

Check back for more updates on the situation.