Wildfire — Garza, Texas

2011-02-27 · Garza, Texas

Wider weather episode

The passage of an intense upper air storm system over the Southern Plains of the U.S. on the 27th caused high winds, blowing dust, and an outbreak of destructive grassland wildfires that affected portions of three states.

Locally on the South Plains of west Texas, intense southwest to westerly winds intensified rapidly in the hours around midday. These winds resulted in widespread blowing dust across region. Visibility at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport dropped to less than one-quarter mile in the dust storm. Similar dust storm conditions undoubtedly occurred at many South Plains locales, but went unreported. Damage brought on by the winds and resultant wildland fires were of much greater concern.

Shortly after 12:00 CST, winds caused power lines to arc in the 5600 block of 45th Street in Lubbock (Lubbock County). An urban-wildland fire quickly sparked and ran through yards and severely damaged six residences. Three homes, two sheds, two boats, and a vehicle were destroyed. A dog was killed, but no human casualties were reported. Lubbock fire fighters additionally fought a fire near the 400 block of East 50th Street around 15:00 CST. That fire, also started by wind-blown power lines, severely damaged 23 vehicles in an automotive repair lot.

Winds downed three power poles and lines into native grasslands southwest of Levelland (Hockley County) around 13:45 CST. The resultant wildfire charred 5,000 acres and destroyed two homes and damaged a third. Four vehicles and a fire engine were lost in the blaze.

Between 14:15 CST and 15:15 CST, at least two fires ignited in southern and western Motley County. The Matador Complex fires grew to consume more than 41,000 acres. U.S. Highway 62/70 was closed as the west-Matador fire, which started at a road-side park twelve miles west of Matador, rapidly spread eastward toward the town. An army of first responders invaded Matador to evacuate its residents toward a defensible area at the Motley County High School gymnasium. One fire fighter was treated for minor burns. At least two homes were severely damaged or destroyed on the southern extent of the city, and many outbuildings were burned. The community of Roaring Springs was additionally threatened without incident.

Around 15:45 CST, a wind-driven fire ignited at an airport just east of Post (Garza County). The fire quickly developed into a massive wildland fire that consumed 9,500 acres before it was contained around 23:00 CST. The fire destroyed a 20 foot by 30 foot telecommunications building which was valued at approximately $2 million. A fire engine was partially burned.

Wind-driven wildfires also ignited near Spur and Afton (Dickens County) and near Aspermont (Stonewall County). These fires collectively accounted for between 5,000 acres and 10,000 acres burned and took a number of outbuildings. Additional and less significant fire starts were observed on the north rim of Tule Canyon near Lake MacKenzie in Briscoe County, in Bailey County, Childress County, and Hale County. In all, at least 11 wind-driven grassland wildfires impacted the extreme Southern Panhandle and the South Plains.

The high winds experienced in the Lubbock (Lubbock County) area during the afternoon hours caused extensive roof damage to an apartment complex near 1930 Baylor Street. One person was injured when a 30 foot by 30 foot section of the roof was blown off of the structure. Debris, which had previously covered three apartment units, struck several cars when it landed in an adjacent parking lot. A vehicle was additionally struck by airborne roofing material that peeled off of another Lubbock business elsewhere in the city.

A list of severe wind gusts measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet, KVII-TV Schoolnet, and Automated Surface Observing Systems follows:

68 mph at Amherst (Lamb County), 65 mph at Lazbuddie (Parmer County), 63 mph at Hart (Castro County), 63 mph at Tulia (Swisher County), 61 mph at MacKenzie Reservoir (Briscoe County), 60 mph at Silverton (Briscoe County), 59 mph at Friona (Parmer County), 59 mph at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport (Lubbock County), 59 mph at Morton (Cochran County), 59 mph at Plainview (Hale County), 59 mph at Turkey (Hall County), 58 mph at Denver City (Yoakum County), and 58 mph at Graham (Garza County).

The winds and wildfires that impacted the South Plains region of west Texas on the 27th clearly had a significant public impact. Although two persons were injured, no fatalities were reported. Total economic losses were estimated near $3.5 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 278133. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.