(Updated at 11:10 a.m. CDT, May 13, 2014)
Firefighters have stopped the spread of the Double Diamond Fire near Fritch, Texas and are mopping up the remaining hot spots. A more accurate assessment of the damage revealed that the fire destroyed 156 structures, at least 89 of which were homes, Texas Forest Service spokesman Troy Duchneaux said late Monday.
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(Originally published at 11:04 a.m. CDT, May 12, 2014)
The Double Diamond wildfire in the Texas panhandle has destroyed about 75 homes 30 miles northeast of Amarillo, but as of Monday morning the fire is 75 percent contained, according to Fritch chief of police Monte Leggett. The fire, approximately 1,200 acres in size, forced hundreds of the town’s residents to evacuate.
At the time the fire was reported at 5 p.m. Sunday, a weather station four miles northeast of the fire recorded winds of 20 mph gusting up to 39 mph, a temperature of 96 degrees, and a relative humidity of 7 percent, conditions very conducive to rapid fire spread. Today at 10:35 a.m. CDT, weather conditions have moderated significantly in favor of the firefighters — 51 degrees, wind of 16 mph gusting to 25, and a relative humidity of 52 percent.
Updated and official numbers
Lost: 225 residences 143 outbuildings
Saved: 241 residences 133 outbuildings
The saves are what the job is about
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fritch-Fire-Department/135766099786237
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hutchinson-County-LEPC-Emergency-Notification/268723643282360
Thanks for the update, Bruce.
A Volunteer firefighter was killed on a 2011 grass fire in this same area: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201110.html
Pampa is where Tornado scientist Dr. Charles Doswell filmed a combine being lofted in the air by a tornado in the 1990’s. I dont recall if it was a F4 or F5.
Gogle Pampa tornado and you should be able to find the video.
Fire has been mapped at 2,583 acres, 35% containment. 131 structures lost. Double Diamond Fire.
Recommend that anyone fighting fire in the Texas/Oklahoma fuel types (and that includes lots of areas in MT, UT, WY, ND & SD, etc) grab a look at 2 DVDs: “Fight Fire from the Black” from the TX Forest Service, and “It’s Only Grass Fire” from the Wildfire LLC. Both offer excellent tips on staying safe in these explosive fuels.