Firefighters are working to contain deadly wildfires raging across the Texas Panhandle, including the second-largest blaze the state has ever seen.
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00:02 >> Plumes of smoke fill the skies over the Texas panhandle,
00:06 as multiple wildfires ravage this region of the United States.
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00:12 And on the ground, flames lap the sides of the road,
00:15 as first responders race through hellish conditions to help.
00:20 Five separate fires in the state's northernmost counties are leaving a trail
00:23 of destruction, already ripping through over 400,000 hectares of land.
00:29 It's prompted thousands of people to evacuate.
00:32 One man forced to leave his home and
00:33 belongings behind, returning just hours later to ashes.
00:38 >> It came up very fast.
00:40 I saw the neighbor's house starting to burn and I called 911.
00:45 And the fire trucks got here, but it just started really fast.
00:51 Flames were going everywhere.
00:53 By the time we got back, well, there was nothing left.
00:56 >> 60 counties are under disaster declarations,
00:59 with thousands of homes and businesses cut off from power.
01:03 The most intense blaze, named the Smokehouse Creek Fire,
01:07 has become the second largest the state has ever seen.
01:09 Firefighters say strong winds, dry grass, and
01:13 unseasonably warm temperatures are fueling the massive fires.
01:17 >> Wind was coming straight out of the north and
01:19 made just this massive wall of fire moving across the landscape.
01:22 We have more resources coming in from across the state and
01:25 across the nation to come assist us.
01:27 So when the winds do pick back up this weekend, we will have people and
01:31 resources and all kinds of things here and ready to go.
01:34 >> Despite hundreds of firefighters deployed to the region,
01:37 the Smokehouse Creek blaze is only 3% contained,
01:41 while the four other fires are burning out of control.
01:43 Weather conditions are expected to ease slightly.
01:46 But as the fire stretches into the neighboring state of Oklahoma,
01:50 authorities warn the days ahead will bring more imminent fire danger.
01:54 Luffy Lee and Rosie Greninja for Taiwan Plus.
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