<div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Fast-moving wildfires were spreading Friday afternoon over portions of the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, prompting evacuations, causing several car crashes amid sandstorm conditions and leaving thousands without power.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Preliminary reports showed that at least three people had died in crashes in the greater Amarillo region, according to officials there.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The wildfires were being <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/weather/texas-oklahoma-fire-weather.html" title="">fueled by gusty winds and dry air across a parched landscape</a> in eastern New Mexico and Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and even portions of the Midwest. Forecasters at the National Weather Service warned that more fire outbreaks appeared likely going into Saturday.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">By Friday afternoon, more than 100,000 had lost power across the Texas Panhandle region and parts of Oklahoma, <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://poweroutage.us/area/state/texas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">according to poweroutage.us</a>. The authorities warned that rolling blackouts were a possibility to avoid fires caused by downed power lines. In <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://x.com/NWSNorman/status/1900619421179408748" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Norman, Okla.,</a> about 15 miles south of Oklahoma City, the authorities were urging some residents to evacuate.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="InteractiveBlock-3"><section class="interactive-content interactive-size-medium css-14l1964" data-id="100000010050880" data-source-id="100000010050880" data-testid="inline-interactive" id="2025-03-14-firefriday"><div class="css-17ih8de interactive-body" data-sourceid="100000010050880" id="embed-id-100000010050880" slug="2025-03-14-firefriday">
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</div></section></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-2"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">In the greater Lubbock and Amarillo areas in Texas, Highway Patrol officials reported more than three dozen car crashes.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Sgt. Cindy Barkley with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Amarillo said that the agency was “inundated right now with crashes.” State Highway 207 between Borger, Texas, and Panhandle, Texas, <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://x.com/TxDOTAmarillo/status/1900616249614221803" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">was closed</a> because of a multivehicle pileup. Preliminary reports showed that three people had died in crashes in the region, Sergeant Barkley said.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Images on social media showed a dystopian view of areas near Lubbock and Amarillo. Emergency workers were battling a heavy sandstorm as they went car by car looking for anyone trapped inside. A man taking one of the videos could be heard saying, “You want to go to Mars, this is Mars.”</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas directed the Division of Emergency Management to deploy all necessary resources to the affected areas ahead of the expected wildfires.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-5"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-3"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">“The State of Texas continues to monitor the heightened wildfire threats that are impacting large portions of the state,” he said in a statement. “With dry conditions, wind gusts and low humidity increasing wildfire danger, Texans are encouraged to make an emergency plan, limit any activities that can cause a spark, and heed the guidance of local officials to keep yourself and your family safe.”</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0"><em class="css-2fg4z9 e1gzwzxm0">This is a developing story. Check back for updates.</em></p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div>
Wildfires Fueled by Dry Conditions Quickly Spread Across Texas and Oklahoma
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