Multiple fires in the Texas Panhandle have burned more than 400,000 acres in recent days. As part of a coordinated response with multiple state agencies and emergency managers, TSCRA has been asked to solicit hay donations from local members.
Two supply points have been established to collect donated hay. Each has been listed below. If you have hay that you can donate and transport to either supply point, please contact the location directly.
Supply Point 1
202 West Main
Lipscomb, TX
Contact: J.R. Spragg
Office: 806-862-4601
Supply Point 2
301 Ball Park Drive
Pampa, TX
Contact: Mike Jeffcoat
Office: 806-669-8033
TSCRA Special Rangers are in the impacted area assessing the damage and assisting TSCRA members. If you need assistance, please contact our offices at 817-332-7064 or fill out this online form by clicking here.
Thank you for your support of TSCRA members in such a time of need.
TEXAS fire information (scroll below for Oklahoma information or click/tap here)
From the Texas Animal Health Commission:
Wildfires have the potential to cause catastrophic loss of property, financial, and environment damage to local communities. Animals may be displaced and need temporary sheltering, feeding, and care. They may also be injured or deceased and need veterinary attention or disposal. Please refer to the information below to learn more about animal identification and carcass disposal.
Lost or Found Animals
- If you find cattle or other livestock with official identification, document the number, location of the animal(s), and call the TAHC at 512-719-0733 or 806-354-9335 and TAHC will contact the owner. If you find stray cattle that have a brand, call Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) at 817-332-7064 for brand indentification.
- If cattle have strayed onto your property, you must report them to the sheriff’s office in the county you are located in within five days of discovery to be eligible for reasonble payment for maintenance of or damages caused by the estray livestock. For more information regarding Texas’ estray laws visit: Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 142.
Carcass Disposal
- For questions about carcass disposal call the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) at 800-832-8224 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov
From the Texas A&M Forest Service:
Multiple wildfires are still burning across the Texas Panhandle following yesterday’s elevated fire conditions across the Southern Plains. Texas A&M Forest Service says it has responded to three large fires for 325,680 acres.
The Dumas Complex Fire, in Potter County near the city of Amarillo, ignited amid humidity values in the single digits and winds gusting in excess of 50 mph. The fire spread rapidly and threatened hundreds of homes. It is currently an estimated 29,197 acres and 75 percent contained.
The Perryton Fire, in Ochiltree, Lipscomb and Hemphill counties is burning in grass and brush and is estimated at more than 315,135 acres. The fire moved rapidly and threatened the towns of Higgins and Glazier. Interagency firefighters were able to protect the towns by diverting the fire away from the communities. Two homes have been reported destroyed.
Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to a request of assistance on wildfire in Gray County named the Lefors East Fire. It is estimated at 92,571 acres and 25 percent contained.
Texas A&M Forest Service and the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center predictive services had forecast extreme fire weather for the northwest half of the Panhandle and critical fire weather west of a line from Childress to Midland. Winds across the Panhandle should subside for Wednesday, but elevated fire conditions return to the area Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Texas A&M Forest Service is working with Department of Public Safety, local fire departments and other interagency resources. The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System has been activated sending fire engine strike teams to Amarillo and other staging areas in the Panhandle.
In anticipation of continued windy fronts for at least the remainder of the month, Texas A&M Forest Service is activating the heavy airtanker base in Abilene and anticipates having a 3,000-gallon jet in place by the end of this week.
These types of aircraft can carry up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant to be dropped in an effort to slow the spread of wildfires. Please remember that drones and other non-incident response aircraft are a safety hazard around wildfires and their presence will result in the grounding of firefighting aircraft. For safety reasons, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the wildfires.
Visit http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation/ or follow @allhazardstfs on twitter for wildfire information in Texas.
OKLAHOMA
Fires Burn Out of Control Across Oklahoma with No End in Sight – 400,000 Acres in Flames & Growing
As wildfires burn across the Northwestern part of Oklahoma today, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Oklahoma State Forester George Geissler for his insights on the latest developments of this tragic ongoing event, as he monitors the situation. Read more…
Gov. Fallin Declares State of Emergency for 22 Counties Due to Wildfires, Critical Fire conditions
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation announced Tuesday it is spearheading a relief fund for cattlemen affected by these fires in Beaver, Ellis, Harper and Woodward counties. If you would like to donate to this relief effort, you can do so by mail or online. Make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation and put “Fire Relief” in the memo line and send to P.O. Box 82395., Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To donate online, click here.
If you would like to donate hay or trucking services for hay, you can do so by contacting either the Harper County Extension Office at 580-735-2252 or Buffalo Feeders at 580-727-5530 to make arrangements or provide trucking services.