This is really bad. Huge wildfires fanned by a lengthy drought and high winds have killed at least six people, closed long stretches of Interstate 40, burned homes and forced the mandatory evacuation of the Route 66 town of McLean. One of the big wildfires started near the Route 66 town of Groom.
The fires have burned a mind-boggling 640,000 acres, according to the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required). Another report says a firefighter suffered burns, and that the Route 66 settlement of Alanreed suffered considerable damage.
At last report, the fires remained out of control.
If anyone is traveling the Mother Road in that direction, please be careful.
UPDATE: Texas Old Route 66 Association President Bob “Crocodile” Lile reported Sunday night on the Route 66 yahoogroup that Delbert and Ruth Trew, who own a ranch just off Route 66 near McLean, are safe but are surrounded by fires and have no electricity. Apparently a mini-museum Delbert had on his ranch burned.
For those not in the know, Delbert and Ruth Trew are volunteers for the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean and are strong advocates of Route 66. Delbert also has written articles for local newspapers and publications.
UPDATE2: Death toll is up to seven, and the Globe-News reports that as many as 14 wildfires were burning at once.
UPDATE3: The Amarillo Globe-News has a photo slide show of the wildfires. The total number of acres burned is listed at 750,000 and still climbing. On the Globe-News’ home page, one fire was listed as 45 miles by 15 miles in area as of Monday afternoon.
Also, Laurel Kane, who co-owns the Afton Station in Afton, Okla., reports that Lawrence and Susan Schumacher of Grove, Okla., were among those who died in car crashes on I-40 during the wildfires. Lawrence was once one of the owners-partners of the original Buffalo Ranch in Afton before it was torn down and made way for a new Buffalo Ranch.