WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) and Senator Ted Cruz (TX) introduced the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act to help Texas livestock producers recover from the devastating wildfires that occurred in the Texas Panhandle earlier this year.
Agencies blasted over wildfire oversight
State agencies and regulators were heavily criticized at a Texas legislative hearing for failing to communicate during the deadly Panhandle wildfires, the Texas Tribune reported.
The three-day hearing, held in Pampa, investigated the Smokehouse Creek fire and others that burned more than a million acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, killed up to 10,000 cattle and resulted in two deaths.
Residents in the Texas Panhandle are starting to put their lives back together after surviving the largest wildfire in the state's history.
The fires burned for three weeks, destroying homes, barns and livestock. The State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund is accepting donations for survivors.
Humans and domestic animals weren’t the only residents facing danger and displacement as flames roared across the Panhandle. Wildlife populations were also affected by the recent historic wildfires.
While wildlife were impacted by recent Panhandle wildfires, AgriLife Extension experts are focused on ecosystem recovery and wildlife resiliency. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife)
COLLEGE STATION—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorizes the release of emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres nationwide to livestock producers affected by the recent wildfires in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Texans asked to conserve energy in heat wave
The agency that operates the power grid for much of the state asked Texans to conserve energy use several times last week as the grid was beset with high demand and low wind-power generation, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has asked electric users to reduce energy use as the state continues to face a tenacious heat wave.
COLLEGE STATION — On Friday, a helicopter delivering water to the 150-acre Barth Fire in Caldwell County almost collided with a drone that came within feet of the aircraft.
Drones are a serious safety hazard for both the aviation resources as well as the firefighters on the ground and can cause a serious or fatal accident if they collide with firefighting aircraft.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A combination of above-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry fuel and strong winds will create the potential for extreme fire conditions across large portions of the state early this week.
Today, conditions capable of producing large fires are expected across the Western Plains, including Canadian, Childress, Amarillo and Lubbock.
