Farmers Rebound After the Texas Panhandle Wildfires
In partnership with: Texas Department of Agriculture
Disasters have a way of bringing out the best in people. That’s precisely what happened after the devastation of the Texas Panhandle wildfires in early 2024.
Acts of kindness and selflessness characterized the community’s response to the disaster, and Panhandle ranchers are passionate in expressing their gratitude.
Scope of the Disaster
Most of the Panhandle is short grass country, explains Andy Holloway, Hemphill County Extension agent for AgriLife. But his region is home to tall grass. Ranchers sometimes refer to the tall grass as “standing gasoline.” With humidity levels often as low as 5% to 6%, all it takes to start a wildfire is a single spark.
“That spark can be man-made – accident or negligence – or an act of God,” he says.
See more: How to Prevent Wildfires
In the 2024 wildfires, the spark originated from an Excel Energy pole that was knocked down by winds of 60 to 80 mph.
In less than 48 hours, the fire spread more than 100 miles from its source. Holloway says 1.1 million acres were burned in the fires; Hemphill and nearby Roberts County lost 900,000 of those acres.
The losses were staggering, including two people losing their lives.
“We lost over 7,000 cows and 2,500 miles of fence,” Holloway says. Hemphill County’s seat, Canadian, lost 53 homes. “Canadian is a small community, so that represented almost the whole town,” he says.
More than 120 ranchers in Hemphill County found themselves in need of aid.
Overwhelming Response
Former state Rep. Warren Chisum owns Chisum Ranches Ltd. in the Panhandle, where wildfires destroyed about 25 miles of his fencing. After the fire, he had to evacuate surviving cattle to land near Dallas and then bring them back.
“We had to rely on good neighbors to get through it,” he says.
Help came quickly to the Panhandle, and from many sources. Holloway’s office organized nearly 150 local volunteers.
“In addition to brave work by our volunteer firefighters, the whole state and nation responded, not only to help put out the fire, but with recovery,” he says.
More than a dozen state agencies assisted. Volunteers and relief workers came from more than 30 states as well as beyond U.S. borders.
Generously Facing the Fire
The recovery brought with it many stories of selfless acts and healing. On the fourth day after the fire, a young girl visited Holloway’s office and presented him with $10.
“Put it to help some ranchers,” she implored.
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“A man and a lady came from Sarasota, Florida, which is 1,500 miles, one way,” Holloway says. “They brought 15 bales of hay on their trailer.”
Those gestures added up. Holloway emphasizes that it was the thought and effort that counted most. Like so many others who came to the Panhandle, that Florida couple was “determined to do whatever they could,” he says.
The Dutchess County, New York, Agricultural Society sent $5,000.
A group of Christian ranchers tore down the burned fences and erected new fencing. A ranch family from Central Texas sent a check for $100,000.
“I can’t even talk about it all without getting choked up,” Holloway says.
Even with all the support, rebuilding takes time. More than one year after the fires, Chisum was able to move his cattle back to his ranch. Today, the herd enjoys grazing the natural buffalo grasses and he enjoys the cattle.