First responders in northern Texas are continuing to help battle the massive wildfire in the state’s Panhandle that has burned more than a million acres since Feb. 26.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire ignited in Hutchinson County, Texas. The blaze became the largest ever in Texas and one of the largest in U.S. history.
Smoke from wildfires can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, as well as more serious disorders such as bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma, heart failure and reduced lung function. Serious cases can lead to premature death, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
People in Tarrant County are asking: Could the smoke from the wildfires affect local public health?
When fires erupt, smoke is carried by the winds. Some of the Panhandle smoke could have reached Tarrant County, but it is unlikely, said Dr. Razaq Badamosi, medical director of pulmonary and critical care at JPS Health Network.
“It generally depends on the direction of the wind, but the most important thing to pay attention to is actually health advisories that are related to the current level of air pollution in the area,” he said. “That’s the real key in seeing if we have been influenced by the particles from the Panhandle.”
Through the weekend, air quality in North Texas remained moderate. The primary pollutant was PM2.5, an inhalable particulate matter that is the greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service is able to forecast the movement of smoke with its satellites. The majority of the smoke is being carried north to Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin.
On March 7, Xcel Energy acknowledged its involvement in the fire and said it has been cooperating with investigations into the wildfires and conducting its own review of the incident, the Texas Tribune reported. As of March 8, the fire had spread to 1,058,482 acres and was 87% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. More than 7,000 head of cattle and two people have died from the fires.
People in Tarrant County who develop acute respiratory systems should seek medical attention to verify the cause, said Badamosi.
If you are struggling to breathe, call 911 immediately. If you are coughing, wheezing or have general respiratory discomfort, see your physician or go to an urgent care clinic.
“If you’re coughing, the best thing to do is talk to your health care provider to ensure that what you’re having is not symptoms of any other underlying diseases that may be misattributed to the ongoing wildfires,” he said.
David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports on X.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.
