-- Firefighters in Texas continued efforts to contain fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed nearly 60 homes, burned more than 110,000 acres, and caused an accident that killed a 5-year-old child, state forestry officials said Monday.
The fires broke out about noon on Sunday, said Lewis Kearney, a spokesman for the forest service's Texas State Lone Star Incident Management Team. Officials believe many were started by power lines that fell from high winds.
Since that time, forestry officials, who were called in to assist local fire departments, have responded to 25 fires in 15 counties across the Texas Panhandle, Kearney said.
Crews that worked through the night to douse the flames will get a little help from the weather. The wind that propelled the fires is expected to be calmer Monday, according to CNN Meteorologist Monica O'Connor.
Kearney said Sunday's high winds made it difficult for firefighters to use aircraft to battle the blaze.
"Air attack will fly early," Kearney said, adding that an aerial look at the fire will help firefighters "see what the situation is."
On Sunday, Interstate 20 was shut down for several hours after heavy smoke from the fires limited visibility. Authorities in Midland County responded to numerous accidents along the highway, including an eight-vehicle crash in which the child died, according to Sgt. Pete Cordova.
In the community of Matador, north of Lubbock, families could do nothing but watch as their homes burned to the ground.
The Segovias hadn't been gone 20 minutes when they returned to a panic-stricken neighborhood and found they had lost everything they owned.
"To know everything you worked so hard for, it's all gone," a tearful Juan Segovia told CNN affiliate KCBD. He and his wife, Rosemary, stared in disbelief at the blaze.
The family of seven is without a home, but grateful for what was not lost.
"I'm glad our family wasn't home when it happened," Rosemary Segovia said before falling into her husband's arms. "That's all I care about is I have my family."
The fires broke out about noon on Sunday, said Lewis Kearney, a spokesman for the forest service's Texas State Lone Star Incident Management Team. Officials believe many were started by power lines that fell from high winds.
Since that time, forestry officials, who were called in to assist local fire departments, have responded to 25 fires in 15 counties across the Texas Panhandle, Kearney said.
Crews that worked through the night to douse the flames will get a little help from the weather. The wind that propelled the fires is expected to be calmer Monday, according to CNN Meteorologist Monica O'Connor.
Kearney said Sunday's high winds made it difficult for firefighters to use aircraft to battle the blaze.
"Air attack will fly early," Kearney said, adding that an aerial look at the fire will help firefighters "see what the situation is."
On Sunday, Interstate 20 was shut down for several hours after heavy smoke from the fires limited visibility. Authorities in Midland County responded to numerous accidents along the highway, including an eight-vehicle crash in which the child died, according to Sgt. Pete Cordova.
In the community of Matador, north of Lubbock, families could do nothing but watch as their homes burned to the ground.
The Segovias hadn't been gone 20 minutes when they returned to a panic-stricken neighborhood and found they had lost everything they owned.
"To know everything you worked so hard for, it's all gone," a tearful Juan Segovia told CNN affiliate KCBD. He and his wife, Rosemary, stared in disbelief at the blaze.
The family of seven is without a home, but grateful for what was not lost.
"I'm glad our family wasn't home when it happened," Rosemary Segovia said before falling into her husband's arms. "That's all I care about is I have my family."
Evacuation orders for counties threatened by wildfires were expected to be lifted Monday morning.
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