Texas A&M Forest Service has responded to nine fires across the state this week, saying they “have the potential to exhaust state and local resources.”
Two of the largest blazes cover more than 37,000 acres. The National Weather Service warns of “critical” fire danger throughout Texas heading into the weekend.
Fires in the drought-stricken Southwest, including New Mexico and Texas, continued to spread on Thursday, fanned by windy weather. Winds gusting up to 50 mph were expected to complicate firefighting efforts on Friday.