A fast-moving wildfire fueled by dry conditions and strong southwest winds threatened hundreds of homes Tuesday in a rural area southwest of Midland, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for several communities as Texas Forest Service crews and local firefighters worked to contain the blaze amid gusts reaching 45 miles per hour.
The fire, which officials named the Rattlesnake Fire, ignited Monday evening under conditions that had been flagged by the National Weather Service as extremely critical for fire spread. By Tuesday morning, the blaze had consumed an estimated 14,000 acres and was zero percent contained, according to Texas A&M Forest Service incident commanders on the scene.
“This fire is moving very rapidly, and we need everyone in the affected evacuation zones to leave now,” said Midland County Sheriff Dale Briggs during a Tuesday morning press conference. “Do not wait to gather belongings. Take your pets, your medications, your documents, and go. We cannot protect lives if people are sheltering in place in the fire’s path.”
The evacuation order covered an estimated 600 homes across three rural communities southwest of Midland and applied to a corridor stretching roughly 12 miles along State Highway 349. Ranchers in the area were also urged to move livestock, and several organizations mobilized trailers to assist with large animal evacuation.
Air tankers and helicopters from the Texas Forest Service were deployed Tuesday to make retardant drops ahead of the fire’s advancing front, but officials acknowledged that wind conditions were hampering aerial operations. Ground crews were focused on protecting structures in the path of the blaze and attempting to establish firebreaks along ranch roads and natural features.
“We have significant resources on this fire, but wind is the governing factor right now,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Commander Janet Wills. “We need those winds to calm before we can make meaningful containment progress. Our crews are doing everything possible, but safety is the first priority.”
No injuries had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon, though officials said several structures had been damaged or destroyed. Damage assessments were ongoing and an exact count of lost buildings had not been released.
Governor Abbott activated the State Operations Center and authorized additional Texas National Guard resources to assist with evacuation logistics. The Texas Division of Emergency Management coordinated the opening of a shelter at Midland College for displaced residents and a large animal staging area at the Midland County Fairgrounds.
The fire came amid an extended period of drought across much of West Texas, with most of the region recording below-average rainfall since October. Fire weather watches and red flag warnings had been issued repeatedly across the region in recent weeks, and local fire officials had been warning of elevated risk conditions.
Residents not under evacuation orders were urged to clear brush around their homes, prepare emergency go-bags, and monitor official channels for updates. TDEM activated its disaster declaration process and state officials indicated that federal assistance could be sought if damage assessments warranted.
