'My Town Is in Danger': Wildfire Prompts Evacuations in Texas Panhandle
Smoke filled the sky over the panhandle town of Fritch, Texas, on Tuesday, February 27, as a wildfire prompted officials to order evacuations in the area.
The fire, dubbed the Windy Deuce fire, was one of several fires burning in the Texas Panhandle region on Tuesday. The fire had burned 8,000 acres and was 20 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to forest service officials.
Video captured by the Eagle Press, a local paper, shows wildfire smoke filling the skies over Fritch on Tuesday. The reporter, who identifies herself as Tara, says, “My town is in danger and it’s burning. Frankly, I’m just gonna say I’m sad right now.” Credit: The Eagle Press via Storyful
Video transcript
- Oh, guys. This is Tara with "The Eagle Press." And right now, Sage Mesa is taking a very hard hit. That is the ball field right there. There are homes that are actively burning. There are homes that are already burnt down.
This is the ball field. I'm at the corner of Byron and Cornell. Let me tell you, it is not--
[BEEPING]
All right! Getting orders to move. We're gonna have to move more. Let me tell you, this is not a safe situation. We are moving. Um, please stay out of this area.
And please get out. You should already be gone. Nothing is important except your life right now. This is a very serious situation.
I am very sorry for the homes that are already lost and the ones that we are going to lose. But, man, you gotta go. You gotta go now, OK? So pay attention.
[DEEP SIGH] I'm taking this video from this angle because my town is in danger, and it's burning. And frankly, I'm just going to say I'm sad right now. I'm taking a moment, and then I'm gone.
[WIND BATTERING MICROPHONE]
I'll come back soon.
[DEEP SIGH] I'm taking this video from this angle because my town is in danger, and it's burning. And frankly, I'm just going to say I'm sad right now. I'm taking a moment, and then I'm gone.
[WIND BATTERING MICROPHONE]
I'll come back soon.
