Texas Fires 2011: Over 1 Million Acres Burned In Wildfires (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The Texas wildfires have been creeping closer and closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as over one million acres have been burned in little over a week's time.

Dry conditions and wind have caused the fires to spread east from sparsely populated west Texas towards more populated regions, according to Reuters. The Texas Forest service also said that 150,000 acres and 150 homes have been destroyed just 80 miles from Fort Worth.

The fires have caused enough destruction to warrant help from numerous other states.

From CNN:

[Texas Forest Service spokeswoman April ] Saginor said firefighters from 34 states are now in Texas battling blazes that, over the past two weeks, have destroyed more than 170 homes.

"Some (fires) are over 100,000 acres and they've been burning for over a week, so that's our priority right now," Saginor said, "to put out the big ones."

State parks have been largely affected, as over 90 percent of the 1,500-acre Possum Kingdom State Park has been charred. Some have reported flames around the park as high as 40 feet, according to Reuters.

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Comments

[marshallwyattearp]

04:42 PM on 05/22/2011

Where's the messiah?

He's conquering other nations, putting radiclas in strategic places around the world. He don't give a damn about this country... He knows his almost got us sewn up by killing our economy. Why don't he bring our soldiers home? 2 reasons... their are no jobs... and he lied to you about the situation over there.

I know you lib's and prog's heard Obama's chosen one say tht there was WMD in Iraq... where's the big mouths now? Are you too ashamed of yourselves, to say anything?

We are having disasters everywhere, and that fool is only concerned about who is going to lead what country.

I hope you are proud of what you have done for the future of America.

Marshall

[marshallwyattearp]

04:34 PM on 05/22/2011

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE???

You so called Liberals and progressives are shameful. Just because your man is in... we aren't going to here from you?

You are more of a liar than Obama. You spewed hatred at every disaster that happened during the last administration. What about now? forest are burning, our government is purposefully flooding people out of their homes, our soldiers are still over seas, we are bombing soveriegn nations, our governemnt is giving our tax dollars to arab nations that support terrorist, we are more dependant on foriegn oil, while the president ad to the regulations on American companies, Obama has been giving your tax dollars to big corpoate business(banks), big corporate unions, Tornado disasters, China is still the leading poluter,

Where are you? Did you ever really stand for anything? I don't think so... all you have shown is that you are 2-faced liars just as the people, and ideas you crammed down the throats of the rest of America.

Swallow you pride!!! Let's hear it!!! Stand up for what's right... One time

Marshall

[Broderick Crawford]

02:14 PM on 05/13/2011

Just last month the U.S. sent two Air force cargo planes to help Mexico battle back wildfires in the northern part of its country, fires that burned 386 square miles. It's a move that West Texas Congressman Francisco Canseco (R-Fort Stockton) thinks is a hypocritical one by the Obama administration as Texas has requested the same sort of federal aid but has been denied it.

It would be hard to find a story more emblematic of Obamunism:

[bjpruitt]

12:25 AM on 05/05/2011

What is the difference in wildfire that takes homes and lives as any other, here in Texas now, what if it was the WhitE HOUSE?? Why want Obama help use in Texas? Oh forgot that is what is wrong with our American politics we are to busy fighting for others and not taking care of our own.

[David Christensen]

12:03 AM on 04/22/2011

I understand the desire for prayer but usually it comes with or after doing everything possible to prevent the situation. I'm willing to bet the Texas state government made cuts to fire prevention or for maintaining firefighting equipment and personnel.

Anyone know for sure?

[HHUA]

04:09 PM on 04/22/2011

Good question. I suspect you are probably right.

[PatA]

11:32 AM on 04/25/2011

If a Governor would fire 100,000 education workers, why wouldn't he cut firefighting equipment and personnel. Perry is the lowest of the low when it comes to services for the people. Yet he lives in a home that rents for $10,000 a month while the statehouse is being repaired from a fire.
PO S.

[jodylynne]

11:48 PM on 04/21/2011

I live in British Columbia and every summer we battle extremely dry conditions that cause forest fires. A couple of summers ago there were over 2000 fires burning throughout the province and firefighters had to be brought in from other provinces to help us out. We go through this *every year* so I feel for Texas. For people who are commenting on this story bringing politics and BS into it...just leave it. The state is in a panic and I see no gain in throwing politics into a tragic story that doesn't warrant it. Preach your political values on the rest of the HuffPo stories--just send good vibes out for this one.

[janie@atthelake]

11:18 PM on 04/21/2011

I live in Texas. Scrolled down, not to see the photos...just too heartbreaking. I am embarrassed that after my Governor rails against the Government, first thing he does after the Oak Hill fire, (south Austin, same kind of trees, hills, & brush as West Lake Hills where he lives) is to write a letter to Obama for money.
Today...he turned. He announced that all of Texas should pray for 3 days of rain. (tea baggers are going to love this)
Scientists have predicted that rain is coming slowly Sunday or Monday.

[AtomicallyCorrect]

05:34 PM on 04/21/2011

A wildfire isn't political, its a bummer. From a Californian who knows the damage of wildfires, my heart goes out to all those dealing with this scary force of nature.
I know its part of the process of the environment renewing itself but its rough on the people and animals none-the-less and I feel for anyone experiencing loss due to it.

Everybody eats boot sometimes, no exceptions.

[HHUA]

04:21 PM on 04/22/2011

They are "political" when you consider that the GOP just cut funding to virtually ALL of our emergency responders in the so called "budget bill" that just passed:

"The resolution passed by Congress that avoided a government shut-down cut millions of dollars in grant funds that help support emergency responders."
http://www.spartnerships.com/newsletter/current/tgi.html

Sadly, EVERYTHING the GOP does is for political gain (never for the good of people or our nation) and we can only expect incidents like this to increase and become worse as they continue to turn their backs on our people, our environment and our country to benefit the few wealthy whom they serve.

Yes, "everybody eats boot sometimes"... But "sometimes" is becoming more and more likely as we continue to deny the realities of climate change and other environmental hazards... Yes, it IS political!

[jenna2929]

05:31 PM on 04/22/2011

well said! it IS political when the GOP makes it political.

[fireman545]

07:28 PM on 04/27/2011

Unfortunately politics will dirty everything, no matter the party. However, you all are not getting the big picture here. Many homes have been lost because the owners of the homes have not been proactive in making their homes less burnable. When you have these types of conflagrations, no amount of equipment will protect every single structure. We as home owners have relied on the services of government for so long we fail to acknowledge our own responsibility in maintaining our homes. I have been fighting fire for 40 years and have seen weather cycles and political funding cycles come and go. Perhaps we should be providing shovels and fire gear to 'our' politicians and their staff--that should give the firelines another couple of 1000 bodies. Maybe if they actually could work they may understand the problems.

[Shannon Cunningham]

09:33 AM on 04/28/2011

everything gets made political.

[Angela Amy]

02:57 AM on 04/21/2011

America is lost since we can't even acknowledge that this is a human and environmental tragedgy. http://www.buildingself-esteem.com

[HHUA]

04:22 PM on 04/22/2011

Fan #1

[miketothad]

02:38 AM on 04/21/2011

Let them eat Bootstraps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfaguHBfwOM

[publiknme]

08:50 PM on 04/20/2011

....Sens. Hutchison, Cornyn join Perry in asking for federal aid for wildfires: Go figure!

....apparently Texas is on top of the list of states asking for fed handouts......and they go on TV preaching small government and that the states should take care of themselves....I feel for the Libs and the animals that were displaced......the hypocrites should stop whining and take care of themselves......

[julieintx]

09:04 PM on 04/20/2011

No one has been preaching that the states shouldn't ask for help in emergencies. We eagerly give help to other nations, like Japan, Chile, and Haiti, and we also give help to our own states.

Do you have a figure for how that "handout" figures on a per capita basis?

Texans would be happy to help you if you were struck by disaster.

[publiknme]

10:13 PM on 04/20/2011

......I believe Sarah Palin's state gets the most handouts per capita.....also Japan, Haiti, and Chile aren't on FoxNews every night complaining about the Obama's huge deficit problem, and him having Socialistic policies......this aid is like entitlements for states.........just seems very hypocritical to me.......how is this different from helping the poor during a crisis ?

[publiknme]

08:36 PM on 04/20/2011

.........hope those secessionists don't ask for any Federal money !

[bcunnin679]

10:18 PM on 04/20/2011

And I thought Liberals like yourself were compassionate people. Go figure

[publiknme]

10:27 PM on 04/20/2011

.........Texans don't want to be part of the US, that's fine, then don't ask for handouts.

Texas is already like another country from another planet.....they have kindergartners bringing guns to school and playing shootem' up, it is arguably the most f*d up backwards a** state in the country.......another couple years and Mexico will have completed their plan of taking Texas back after Texans stole it from the Mexicans...

[publiknme]

10:38 PM on 04/20/2011

.........and if you are conservative....you probably didn't think Libs were compassionate anyway....you probably think they are lazy, treehugging(like there is something wrong with that), socialistic, communistic hippies that want to bankrupt the country for fun......give me a break.....and while you're at it.....keep your guns locked up so your kids don't kill someone !

[Ann Starke]

11:57 PM on 04/20/2011

You are kidding, aren't you?

[publiknme]

12:13 AM on 04/21/2011

.........yeah......I'm kidding.....a little bit.....I do feel bad for all the residents.....but I still think Texas is f***ed up !

[Halsey]

08:02 PM on 04/20/2011

I am disgusted by so many comments here that deal with ideology, politics and such lame attempts at being clever (and I'm talking ALL parties sniping at each other). People are dying, animals are dying in horrid ways. America is lost since we can't even acknowledge that this is a human and environmental tragedgy. No, far more important to be snide and sarcastic.

A chunk of Australia went through this last year. Nature can seem cruel; but it also brings LIFE back to dead areas. Unless any of you can raise the dead, shut up and consider how sad this is.

[TexasTreader]

07:32 PM on 04/20/2011

Pick on Texas all you want. You're still not gonna get Obama a second term.

[normalintexas]

07:35 PM on 04/20/2011

Oh please. You are so off-base and you know it.

[jenna2929]

05:35 PM on 04/22/2011

lol, thanks for the laugh. who do they have on the right that has accomplished what obama has accomplish (and after 8 years of bush eff ups no less) that can win in 2012? i would love to know.
http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/simple_article/4857392

[Ann Starke]

07:16 PM on 04/20/2011

If anyone out there has not experienced the tragedy of wildfires in your state, I would suggest you keep your nasty comments to yourselves. It is an unspeakable tragedy for all concerned and fills anyone and everyone who witnesses it with absolute dread, fear and hopelessness. A raging wildfire doesn't give a G..D... what party owns what house or land or ranch or horses. it destroys all of them.
And I am not a great l lover of anything Texan, but those poor people are in deep trouble. I would not be surprised if some fire departments from your cities are in Texas right now fighting those fires. So at the very least, pray for the firefighters and the people who are in danger of losing their homes and everything they own. No one deserves that.

[normalintexas]

07:18 PM on 04/20/2011

X2. Heard on the local news today another firefighter has died.

[julieintx]

07:19 PM on 04/20/2011

"And I am not a great l lover of anything Texan"

Why do you dislike everything Texan? I'm from Texas and I would never make such a bigoted statement about your state, or any other.

[normalintexas]

07:24 PM on 04/20/2011

Ann and anyone else can state they are not a great lover of anything Texas. Her post did not lack empathy and in no way was big-oted.