Gov. Greg Abbott, state officials host press conference to provide info on fire efforts

BORGER, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — As the High Plains deal with historic wildfires, Governor Greg Abbott and other state officials were in Borger Friday afternoon to assess the damage and discuss ongoing efforts.

During that news conference, Governor Abbott was joined by the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management Nim Kidd, the Director of the Texas A&M Forest Service Al Davis, and Hutchinson County Judge Cindy Irwin.

Governor Abbott said the Smokehouse Creek Fire, now the largest fire in Texas history cut a path so large that it exceeds the size of some other states in the us.

“I have witnessed and observed some extraordinary damage in our state, which could be caused by hurricanes or tornadoes. Frequently when you see the aftermath of that damage, there is some semblance of a structure that is still there. When you look at the damages that have occurred here, it’s just gone. Completely gone. Nothing left but ashes on the ground,” said Abbott.

Governor Abbott said premature assessments show that about 400 to 500 structures have been destroyed, but he said there is no way for certainty that will be the final number.

He added the path cut by the fire is so large that it exceeds the size of some other states in the US.

Chief Kidd said the perimeter is hundreds of miles long.

“With a million-acre fire, it’s a little over 550 miles, the perimeter of that fire. So think about that in sheer scope for a second,” said Chief Kidd.

Chief Kidd added the hardest hit areas when it comes to populated areas include Fritch and Canadian.

“We talked to the judge there and she is not here with us today, because she didn’t feel like she could leave her community because of the devastation there. I will be traveling there early next week, if not over this weekend. What we see in home damages is really, it’s hard to example because the fire, because to your point smoldering and it’s still to hard to get in and count those damages.”,” said Chief Kidd.

Chief Kidd also added that 90% of Roberts County has been burned.

Chief Kidd said the cause of the Smokehouse Creek Fire is still under investigation.

Governor Abbott added they are looking at ways to help ranchers in the area.

“There are certain funds that are available, certain grant funds that are available to address issues like this, those will be looked at to see if they qualify, other than that there will be other efforts that can be made. We know that the loss of cattle is extraordinary, but it goes beyond that look at the grass they feed on, look at the fences they kept them in, different things like that, so we’re looking at the big picture holistically about ways in which to assist both the ranchers and farmers to be able to recover from this,” said Abbott.

Chief Kidd said they will continue to open disaster relief recovery centers across the High Plains so that ranchers and citizens know what grant programs to go to.

Governor Abbott said one thing that was raised in the discussion with officials was greater air support, not just for this fire, but ongoing basis. He said they have adequate air support to combat that for the coming days, but he says for the longer term, he and members of the legislature are going to work together to find a way to put together the air resources that are needed for the fires in this area.

“We are here for the longer term and we, myself and my fellow members of the legislature as well as Ronny Jackson, we are all going to find a way to put together the air resources that are needed for fires that are more unique or different in this region of this state of Texas…It lets me and other decision-makers in Austin, Texas know that if they can provide the type of equipment and personnel that will better fight fires like this, then it is something we need to step up and do. Bottom line, we want to make sure we don’t want a repeat of this type of fire in the future. Maybe the best tool we can add to the toolbox to prevent a fire like this would be better, different types of planes to make sure that can drop retardant and other materials that would slow or stop a fire,” said Abbott.

Governor Abbott said because of winds and other challenges, air support was not provided initially. He said if it had been provided, it’s possible the fire would have been more contained.

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