11 Dead in Texas Fires; Cattle Burn Alive

[Sequoia]

The charred bodies of four oilfield workers were found a short distance from their car. A cow that had tried to push through a barbed wire fence was discovered burned alive. And 10,000 other cattle and horses were feared dead across the smoking landscape.

The grisly toll from one of the state's worst outbreaks of wildfires became ever clearer Tuesday as the blazes continued to burn across the dry Texas Panhandle.

At least 11 people have died and 1,900 others have been forced to evacuate since the weekend. The windblown fires have raced across more than 1,000 square miles.

Firefighters reported making progress Tuesday but braced for the possibility of a dangerous shift in wind and a drop in humidity. More than 350 firefighters battled the blazes, with 26 aircraft dropping fire retardant and 55 bulldozer crews clearing brush and digging trenches.


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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/03/14/national/a151229S00.DTL

[OKNancy]

1. How terrible

It's kind of hard to know what to say.

[JuniperLea]

2. Just awful

My sister lost her home and some animals in the Lake Arrowhead fires of October '03. This brings back horrific memories. I'll hold positive thoughts for those poor people and animals.

[boobooday]

3. Damn

What a nightmare.

[pitohui]

4. jeezus

i suppose the people did too, what an awful thing

[demosincebirth]

5. Only 350 firefighters?

I seems that they would need three times that amount.

[peacefreak]

7. My guess is the National Guard would normally be called up.

It seems that they are otherwise engaged.

[demosincebirth]

9. 1000sq miles is a lot of land.

You'd think they would ask for help from firefighters all over the west.

[dbt]

6. Were there any Chemtrails in Texas in the last 48 hours?

Just asking...

:evilgrin:

dbt
Remember New Orleans

[jamesinca]

8. where is the inappropriateness of the religious right

Where is the call from them about fires, tornadoes and death being the wrath of God? Where are those useless bastards? It must just be the weather this time not God. I am pissed at them for not even being consistent with their inappropriateness.

On edit: I do have empathy for those that have been effected.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Talked with a friend who has relatives in the Pampa, TX area

Her uncle and aunt have a 5,000 acre ranch. She told me the fire came up to the back of their home. They used some sort of industrial srayer they had, filled it with water, and kept their home from buring down.