The Smokehouse Creek Fire rages in the Texas Panhandle. (Courtesy: Betsy Cornette)
By: Jan O’Brien Coopman
Springtime is an especially challenging time of year for fires in the Texas Panhandle area because of dry, warm weather and high winds. In January 2022, the Carbon Camp Fire burned 117 acres in Hutchison County. It destroyed not only one longtime, well-known home in Scott’s Acres but also, very sadly and impactfully, killed its lone resident.
In April 2022, the American Red Cross North Texas Region helped with a Panhandle wildfire mitigation project in Stinnett. The goal has always been to save the lives of people and animals, plus preserve agriculture and structures.
The program was initially launched to educate homeowners about wildfire safety, to be prepared and to learn how to protect families and communities. Hutchison County residents have been known to be exemplary in their wildfire mitigation projects, so the Red Cross naturally partnered with them. In coordination with Hutchison County Emergency Management, Scott’s Acres was chosen for the mitigation project after being identified as a high-risk area.
Betsy Cornette is a former trauma nurse who is now the Red Cross Disaster Program Manager responsible for managing volunteers in 26 counties (27,000 sq. miles) of the Texas Panhandle. She and others in the region were instrumental in guiding the project. Their goal of 20 participating homes was exceeded; of the 46 homes involved in the earlier mitigation, 21 were saved from fires in 2024. The project made such a difference in saving other homes, too.
Cornette’s general responsibilities include managing volunteers and collaborating with chapter municipalities and fire departments on disaster preparedness and mitigation. The Red Cross is chartered by the US Congress to shelter and feed during disasters. She, therefore, educates the public on preparedness, manages programs that make homes safer, and aids victims of house fires and disasters.
Red Cross participants installed smoke detectors in many homes. They also worked with residents who own cell phones to add the Red Cross Emergency app to obtain emergency notifications swiftly via those cell phones.
Examples of fire identification include the name of a road where the fire was first reported, the nearest nearby town or neighborhood, or notable nearby landmark features such as rivers, creeks, or mountains. It's in the best interest of everyone to use a benign name that helps identify the fire's start or location but not so explicitly named where blame could be inadvertently and incorrectly placed. The Double S fire was named as such because the fire was reported behind the Rock Creek area two miles west of Borger, Texas and contains at least two s-shaped twists and turns.
The most common practice to name a wildfire is based on the geographical location where the fire originated or where it was most prominent.
It’s common for a wildfire to be initially named according to its specific location landmark. Still, Cornette said it may even be changed a few more times to more accurately represent its overall location or where people are most needed.
The scope of the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire in recorded Texas history, began about a mile north of Stinnett, Texas, on February 26, 2024, after a broken utility pole downed a still-live power line. The fire then ignited and engulfed northern portions of Smokehouse Creek, becoming its namesake.
It can also be common for more than one fire, sometimes even a few, to converge into one large fire that was then later named. Typically, that large fire name is the one that people remember—as was the case with the devastating Smokehouse Creek fire.
The fire spread, causing significant damage. It burned more than one million acres, killed two people and 15,000 cattle, destroyed more than 100 homes and businesses (more than 500 structures), and left 11,000 people without power. It also devastated grasslands needed by cattle ranchers and general wildlife. A porcupine, later named Cinder, was burned yet rescued and lived.
Plus, imagine seeing a calf bawling and burned beside her dead, burned mother. The calf was later appropriately named Ash.
For example, many can likely recall an accidental, brief burn in your kitchen. I remember touching a very hot pot or stove. My natural reaction was to pull away very quickly; the brief, very minor burn mishap still hurt after a few days, and it left a red mark on my skin. But when caught amidst these fires, an option to escape may not exist. Animals can't shout out for help with words as humans can. So, if they live, typically, some parts can be burned, as was the case with Cinder and Ash. Truly, bless those volunteers who helped them recover.
Charles Clark, one of about eighteen volunteer firefighters in Stinnett, demonstrated a prime example of dedication. His volunteer firefighting is in addition to his full-time work as a shipper of packaged carbon black. (Carbon black is a vital component in making many products we use every day stronger, deeper in color and longer lasting—products such as rubber in tires, hoses, conveyor belts, plus plastics, printing inks and automotive coatings.)
While not one to boast, Clark’s story is simply too touching, too profound, not to share. On the second day of the Smokehouse Creek fire, area residents were under an evacuation order because of the fire potential. With news of the fire heading toward his home, Clark left his full-time job to drive to his neighborhood.
The smoke was thick. The door handle on his home was too hot even to try to open it and enter. “The back of my house was already on fire,” Clark said. So then, what did he do? Instead of doing what he could to save as much of his property as possible, he instead ran to houses on both sides to help save their properties. Consequently, Clark then watched his own home engulfed in flames. He lost everything there, everything. Everything that is, but the respect and admiration of his very grateful neighbors, whose homes he helped to save.
Afterward, the Red Cross helped with gift cards for food and clothing. There was also an outpouring of local support to help those in need, including a donated camper trailer for Clark. But because he already had shelter and could stay with relatives, Clark gave the camper to others who needed it more than he did.
Wildfires also threatened the community again in February and March of 2025.
The fire burned into Pampa and destroyed its football field. High winds even spread the fire into Oklahoma and Kansas. After nearly three devastating weeks, this particular fire was finally fully contained in late March.
Red Cross volunteers joined partners in FEMACorps (a federal agency that promotes national service and volunteering), Hutchison County Emergency Management, the Hutchison County Fire Marshal, Team Rubicon and the Stinnett Volunteer Fire Department to alert citizens with weather radios and installed home smoke alarms.
In addition, homeowners learned the importance of having an evacuation plan and defensible space around their homes and about the emergency broadcast and alert systems in Hutchinson County. Team Rubicon members were also on hand to survey properties for future mitigation efforts.
Advanced work with fire mitigation could help provide safety and protection. According to Cornette, the three stages of fire mitigation to help ward against a fire damaging and/or spreading near a structure, commonly a house, include:
Her recommendations are vital in rural areas, and the points can also apply in suburban areas.
So far in 2025, Texas has seen an above-average number of wildfires because of lower-than-average precipitation and hot, dry conditions expected to linger throughout spring in the Panhandle, making the threat of fires more prevalent.
Residents reflected upon the importance of the mitigation project in ensuring safety. According to Cornette, “The 2022 wildfire mitigation project was an invaluable resource in helping to provide safety ideas in advance of and during a wildfire. A prime example is during the more current 2025 Double S fire raging in Borger, Texas, this March. To provide context, it has burned 500 acres and has been only 50% contained. But as a result of the earlier critical wildfire mitigation project, we learned how to best prepare residents for wildfires and have saved numerous structures, animals, agriculture—and most critically, human lives.”
Because the Red Cross values the physical and mental health of those who help, confidential, complimentary counseling assistance is offered. Just imagine for a moment what workers endure when helping during tragic events—it's not easy witnessing human lives perishing and the horrible destruction of wildlife and property. So, there is definitely no shame in getting help to process it all—in fact, it’s healthy to work through things well.
Yes, the Red Cross values our people and cares for those affected by disasters and helpers. Cornette says, "We aim to be strong so we can be of the most benefit to those we serve. Often, after helping someone, that means taking a deep breath and getting back into an encouraging, positive mode mere seconds after helping with one tragedy. The goal is to be able to move to the next event or person and still serve well. Again. And again, and again.” She said it takes a special person skilled to handle it all—someone with a tender heart yet nerves and resiliency of steel to deal with all of the emotions and physicality involved.
When in need, count on the Red Cross to assist. We’re here for you.
Many thanks to those who contributed to this article:
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