Operation Blessing has geared up to provide relief at the Texas Panhandle following the largest wildfire in the Lone Star state’s history.
According to CBN News, about two people have died from The Smokehouse Creek Fire while hundreds of homes and buildings have been destroyed. The blaze reportedly consumed nearly 1.3 million acres.
"I had to leave and then had to drive through fire to get out of there. I was going to die," said homeowner Stacy Mcfol.
Satellite images have shown large pillars of smoke from the wildfires incited by high winds and dry conditions. Meanwhile, ranchers lamented at the deaths of thousands of cows that they could not able to save in time due to the rapid speed of the fires.
"We have about 1,000 cattle, as you can see behind us, we're picking up 'deads' today," Chance Bowers, X-Cross-X Ranch operator, said. "By the time it's all said and done we're going to have lost probably 200 to 250 head, and that's just cows. We were right in the middle of calving season. I've spent the last 15 years building this herd up and you can lose it overnight. But we've been very blessed, very fortunate that, that we we've only got to lose 200, you know," Bowers said.
The small panhandle town of Borger, Texas was also affected by the fire. Pastor William Shields of Bethel Temple had to shelter some of his congregants at the church when the fires were nearby.
"They had to actually live up in our fellowship hall for a few days while they were getting everything straight, what happened with their house and everything," Shields said. "What we originally felt about it was that we've gotta find a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus and, and to be the church in this situation and not just come to church," he said.
Operation Blessing is working with several local churches to provide aid to people including food and water, hygiene kits, EMS care kits, rakes, shovels, clean-up supplies, clothing, batteries, and emergency meal kits.
Shields contended that Operation Blessing is demonstrating the love of Christ to those who are suffering.
"It means a lot to have support of different organizations that come, like Operation Blessing and things like this, to come and support, you know, these communities in this time of need and this time of devastation you could call it. And it just goes to show that, you know, people do care, and people do want to help," he said.
At the present time, no cause of the wildfire has been determined. However, some residents have sued a local power company alleging that downed power lines were a possible factor.
Meanwhile, firefighters are hoping that there would be rain this week to assist them in putting out the flames.
Image credit: © Getty Images/Kara Capaldo
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
