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Texas wildfires prompt Rick Perry to return home | Texas wildfires prompt Rick Perry to return home |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Firefighters in drought-stricken Texas are struggling to contain a 16-mile-wide (26-km) wildfire that has destroyed at least 300 homes. | |
Texas Governor Rick Perry has cancelled campaigning in South Carolina to return home and monitor the blaze. | Texas Governor Rick Perry has cancelled campaigning in South Carolina to return home and monitor the blaze. |
"It's a monster, and it's zero percent contained," said Jan Amen of the Texas Forest Service. | "It's a monster, and it's zero percent contained," said Jan Amen of the Texas Forest Service. |
Another fire in East Texas killed a 20-year-old woman and her baby daughter on Sunday before it was extinguished. | Another fire in East Texas killed a 20-year-old woman and her baby daughter on Sunday before it was extinguished. |
Hundreds of homes have had to be evacuated because of the latest fire, which is about 30 miles south-east of Austin and moving away from the state capital. | Hundreds of homes have had to be evacuated because of the latest fire, which is about 30 miles south-east of Austin and moving away from the state capital. |
Storm-fanned flames | Storm-fanned flames |
It is the largest of dozens of wildfires burning throughout the state, including more than 60 that had started on Sunday. | It is the largest of dozens of wildfires burning throughout the state, including more than 60 that had started on Sunday. |
Powerful winds from Tropical Storm Lee, hundreds of miles to the east, have fanned the flames. | Powerful winds from Tropical Storm Lee, hundreds of miles to the east, have fanned the flames. |
"We have about 16 miles long at this time and about six miles wide," Bastrop County Fire Chief Ronnie McDonald said, referring to the size of the biggest blaze. | "We have about 16 miles long at this time and about six miles wide," Bastrop County Fire Chief Ronnie McDonald said, referring to the size of the biggest blaze. |
It has devoured more than 17,500 acres (7,000 hectares) of land, including nearly half of the Bastrop State Park. | It has devoured more than 17,500 acres (7,000 hectares) of land, including nearly half of the Bastrop State Park. |
Gov Perry said in a statement: "I urge Texans to take extreme caution as we continue to see the devastating effects of sweeping wildfires impacting both rural and urban areas of the state." | Gov Perry said in a statement: "I urge Texans to take extreme caution as we continue to see the devastating effects of sweeping wildfires impacting both rural and urban areas of the state." |
He has cancelled an appearance at the presidential forum in South Carolina and a trip to California. | He has cancelled an appearance at the presidential forum in South Carolina and a trip to California. |
Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s. | Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s. |