Gov. Greg Abbott commended first responders and firefighters on Friday (March 18) who responded to the wildfires in west central Texas, as well as mourned an Eastland County Sheriff’s deputy who lost her life attempting to help others during the incident.
According to a press release issued by the governor’s office, Abbott met with Eastland officials to receive updates on the fires and issued a disaster declaration for 11 counties. The governor was accompanied by State Rep. Glenn Rogers (R-Graford), Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd and local officials, the release said.
"The State of Texas is working alongside local officials to respond to these critical fire conditions throughout several Texas counties," Abbott said, according to the release. "I commend the hard work and selfless acts of thousands of first responders and firefighters who are risking their own lives to protect our communities."
A statement from the Eastland County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) said that Deputy Sergeant Barbara Fenley was assisting with traffic control and evacuations in the town of Carbon.
According to the ECSO, Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS reported, Fenley was going to check on an elderly resident when the dire conditions presented by the fires caused the 51-year-old law enforcement veteran to run off the roadway and become "engulfed in the fire."
"I also ask Texans to join me in praying for those who have been affected by these wildfires, including Eastland County Deputy Barbara Fenley who was tragically killed while trying to save lives," Abbott said in the release. "We will never forget her sacrifice, and the state will continue to work closely with first responders and local leaders to mitigate these fires and support our communities as they recover."
The governor's office said that Abbott, a Republican, ordered flags in Eastland County, the epicenter of the infernos, to fly at half-staff in memory of Fenley, who served as the chief of police for her hometown of Gorman before joining the ECSO.
Abilene Telemundo affiliate KTAB reported that Fenley was the lone person to perish in the fires.
The governor also waived vehicle size, weight and permitting requirements for the area's farmers and ranchers, according to the release.
The fires' impact was felt as far as the state's Upper Gulf Coast region as strong winds carried clouds of smoke for more than 350 miles, the Houston Daily reported.
According to Houston CBS affiliate KHOU, a cold front ushered smoky conditions into Houston and much of Southeast Texas.
Eastland County is about 90 miles west of Fort Worth.