February 27, 2024 7:19 PM ET
In Pampa, authorities are going door to door to advise people to evacuate.
From CNN's Joe Sutton
The city of Pampa announced Tuesday night that it was “suggesting” a voluntary evacuation due to the threat of rapid spread of the raging wildfire.
Residents of Pampa, located about 80 miles northeast of Amarillo and 40 miles southwest of Canada, are being told to shelter in place. Several fires were burning nearby, including the Grape Vine Creek Fire and the larger Smokehouse Creek Fire, which had burned at least 250,000 acres by Tuesday evening.
“We are now proposing a voluntary evacuation for the City of Pampa. Please proceed south from I-70 to I-40 and go to the Amarillo area or Clarendon,” the city said in a Facebook post.
The Grapevine Creek Fire is burning in Gray County, where Pampa is located, and has already burned 30,000 acres. The Texas A&M Forest Service said it was 20% contained as of Tuesday afternoon.
Pampa officials said buses were available for people who needed help evacuating the city.
“At this time, the sheriff's office will be going door-to-door and recommending evacuation north of County Line Road on Highway 70,” city officials said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening.
“When it's time for the city to evacuate, a mass email will be sent (according to the Gray County Emergency Management Agency, everyone will receive a text even if they haven't signed up to receive the text), sirens will sound, and notifications will sound.” Our social media and local media will also be notified immediately,” the post reads.
“Our first responders are kept in the loop and are constantly monitoring the situation and will update you as soon as there is a change. Stay away from potential fire areas. be careful.”
CNN has reached out to the mayor for further information.