The worst of them was the Mesquite Heat Fire, in Taylor county, southwest of Abilene, Texas, that destroyed some 30 structures and burned over 3,000 hectares.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, on Thursday afternoon, only five percent of the fast-moving flames had been contained.

There was a drought, gusts of wind of up to 30 miles per hour and temperatures well over 100 degrees in this area, something that fueled the fire, Spokeswoman for the Abilene Fire Department, Elise Roberts, said.

The local authority added that, in these conditions, fires break out very easily and are very difficult to contain.

According to Roberts, the fire in Taylor county broke out in this locality’s road and could have been ignited by something as simple as a cigarette thrown from a window.

In Wilbarger county, in the north of this state, the Coconut fire burned over 10,000 hectares, and only 20 percent of it could be controlled.

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