The Texas Panhandle fires have burned nearly as much land in 1 week as thousands did in 4 years in the state

The wildfires continuing to spread across the Texas Panhandle have already burned nearly 1.3 million acres in just over a week – nearly the same amount of land burned over the course of several years in the state. 

As of Monday afternoon, there are five active wildfires in the Texas Panhandle at varying levels of containment. The largest of the blazes, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, is the biggest to ever form in the state and one of the largest-ever blazes in U.S. history, and only 15% of it has been contained. 

The damage has been exceptional with many losing their homes, farms and ranches. And while the final toll of the fires has yet to be determined, one thing is clear – this is one of Texas' fiercest wildfire battles.