| Episode Narrative |
The Texas Forest Service reported that the Canyon Wildfire, which is also known as the Cemetery Road Wildfire locally, began around 1600CST about five miles east southeast of Canyon Texas in Randall County. The wildfire started near the intersection of Interstate 27 and Cemetery Road. The wildfire initially threatened seven homes along with seven barns. There were two homes that were in immediate danger. A total of sixty homes were threatened. One abandoned older home was destroyed. The Palo Duro Canyon and Sunday Canyon and points east from there were under a voluntary evacuation. At least one hundred students from a youth camp had to be evacuated by bus. The Ceta Canyon Church Camp lost two cottages and also two multi-unit storage buildings. One home and one shelter building were heavily damaged and may be reclassified as lost. The Ceta Glen Church Camp lost two shower buildings and the Helen Tilger Hall received damage. There were unknown miles of fencing and utility poles which were lost. There were no injuries reported. The wildfire was mapped initially using a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter along with a Global Positioning System at sixteen thousand three hundred and seventy-three acres and had a perimeter of fifty-three miles. However, approximately an additional one hundred and eighty acres were consumed on Palo Duro Canyon State Park land. It is estimated that a total of sixteen thousand eight hundred and three acres were consumed. Seven to eight ranches were immediately threatened by the wildfire, however an accurate count could not be completed due to the amount of smoke. It is believed that multiple ranches and homes were in the path of the wildfire. The wildfire exhibited a rate of spread of three hundred chains per hour on the south end of the fire. The wildfire was about eighty percent contained at approximately 1630CST on May 27. |
