Influx of firefighters, cooler weather in Texas Panhandle helps keep wildfires in check

By VALERIE GONZALEZ
Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — An influx of hundreds of firefighters and more favorable weather conditions are helping authorities in the Texas Panhandle keep the largest wildfire in state history from threatening more homes and communities. A cluster of fires has burned across more than 1,900 square miles in rural areas around Amarillo. The largest fire was 15% contained as of Sunday afternoon. Two other fires were at least 60% contained. Strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm weather fed the blazes. No official cause for the blazes has been identified. But a lawsuit filed last week in Hemphill County alleges that a downed powerline sparked the largest fire that destroyed homes in several communities.