Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A winter wildfire in the Texas panhandle has grown into the largest blaze in the state’s history.
The Smokehouse Creek fire has grown to more than 1,700 square miles in Texas and Oklahoma, with the vast majority burning in the Lone Star State. Firefighters have had limited success bringing the wildfire under control, which has claimed the life of one person and burned multiple homes and other structures in the rural area.
Unseasonably warm temperatures, strong winds, and particularly dry conditions enabled wildfires to spread in multiple states, including Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, damaging communities and creating dangerous amounts of smoke. Such fires are typically unusual so early in the year, but the effects of climate change, from higher global temperatures to increased drought conditions, have lengthened the fire season and raised the risk of unnaturally large and more dangerous fires across the country
In response, Dan Ritzman, Director of Sierra Club’s Conservation Campaign, issued the following statement.
“Wildfires destroy homes, livelihoods, communities, and landscapes. We at Sierra Club are holding those who have been affected by these fires close in our hearts, thank the first responders who are helping these communities, and urge federal and state authorities to provide them with the resources and support they need to recover as quickly as possible.
“These are some of the first major wildfires reported in 2024, and they are unlikely to be the last. Climate change is causing the extreme weather that makes wildfires increasingly common and increasingly destructive. We must work to protect communities facing these threats, especially the most vulnerable communities, and act now to take on the climate crisis that fuels these fires.”
In response, Dave Cortez, Director of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, issued the following statement.
“Texas carries a large burden when it comes to the consequences of climate change, and this wildfire – the biggest in state history – is another terrible tragedy exacerbated by extreme weather. Texans know climate disasters, and we know how to come together to support our people in these moments. Yet we also look to the future with uncertainty of how much more we can carry. As an environmental organization, we are focused on supporting the first responders and recovery effort for this important ranching community in the Panhandle. When the smoke has cleared, we must join together to address the causes of these climate disasters before it’s too late for Texas.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.