2022 Texas wildfires
The 2022 Texas Wildfires are a series of wildfires occurring in 2022 in the state of Texas. They include 371 individual fires occurring throughout Texas.[1] A total of 210,045 acres were burned in the 2022 Texas wildfires according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, with the largest fire being the Eastland Complex fire.[2]
Background
Dormant Fire Season
From Mid-February to Mid-April, vegetation is often dead or dormant. Combined with dry winds, low humidity, and La Niña-related conditions, fuels can ignite more easily—and once started, fires spread rapidly due to these atmospheric patterns. This timeframe sees elevated wildfire activity in the absence of vegetation green-up.[3][4] Brad Smith of Texas A&M Forest Service notes this aligns with La Niña cycles, which intensify dryness and wind in winter into spring.[5]
Growing-Season Peak
From March to May, as vegetation greens up and then dries, especially after a wet winter, the combination of abundant grass fuel, warmer, drier weather, and occasional lightning can ignite severe wildfires. These months contribute to a significant proportion of the state's largest fires.[6][7]
Year-Round Risk
Over time, Texas has seen a trend toward year-round wildfire risk, driven by changing land use, climate trends, and increased human activity. According to Fire Chief Wes Moorehead, what used to be two distinct seasons have blurred, as fire conditions now show up in all months.[8] This is further compounded by climate change, which has extended "fire weather"—days combining heat, dryness, and wind—raising wildfire potential across the state.[9]
Early outlook
Seasonal fire risk
High alerts are included in March of the year and it is estimated South Texas and Central Texas will be severely affected in this fire season[10]
Notable fires
Eastland Complex
| Eastland Complex fires of 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | March 17, 2022 |
| Location | Central Texas |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 382 |
| Total area | 210,045 acres (85,002 ha) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
| Structures destroyed | 50 |
| Damage | Unknown |
On March 17, 2022, a fire complex formed around 3 km (0 mi) SE of Romney.[11] It was claimed to have been started by drought condition and is now 90% contained. The biggest fire so far is the Kidd fire, burning about 42,333 acres.[12]
Smoke from the fires reached as far as Houston.[13]
Crittenberg Complex
A fast wildfire near Fort Cavazos burned about 33,000 acres and was 55% contained.[14]
Borrega Fire
Borrega Fire is the largest Texas fire since the Iron Mountain Fire in May 2011 and currently, 60,000 acres have been burned and was 95% contained.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastland Complex fires | Eastland, Comanche, Calhan | 54,463 | March 17, 2022 | April 8, 2022 | ||
| Ramsey Fire | Brown | 3,456 | March 17, 2022 | April 12, 2022 | ||
| Das Goat Fire | Medina | 1,092 | March 25, 2022 | April 15, 2022 | ||
| Borrega Fire | Kleberg | 51,566 | March 25, 2022 | April 15, 2022 | ||
| Coconut Fire | Wilbarger | 15,000 | May 17, 2022 | June 3, 2022 | ||
| Nethery Road Fire | Kimble | 3,262 | July 10, 2022 | July 21, 2022 | Unknown cause | [15] |
| Nelson Creek Fire | Walker | 1,896 | July 18, 2022 | July 25, 2022 | Unknown cause | [16] |
| Chalk Mountain Fire | Hood | 6,755 | July 18, 2022 | August 2, 2022 | Unknown cause | [17] |
| West Bend Fire | Wichita | 6,522 | July 19, 2022 | July 23, 2022 | Unknown cause | [18] |
See also
References
- ^ "Texas Wildfire and Smoke Map". elpasotimes.com. May 20, 2022.
- ^ "Wildfire risk remains high for much of Texas in the days ahead, fire officials say". The Texas Tribune. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "La Niña and Texas' Winter Fire Season". Texas A&M AgriLife Today. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "Wildfires — growing and dormant season in Texas". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "La Niña and Texas' Winter Fire Season". Texas A&M AgriLife Today. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "Red flag warning: Here's when Texas wildfire season gets going". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "Texas Panhandle fire grows to 1 million acres..." Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "Texas wildfires are now a year-round threat. What changed?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ ""Fire weather" is happening more often". Axios Austin. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "WEATHER Worsening fire conditions over the weekend". WFAA. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Gutschke, Laura; Bethel, Brian (18 March 2022) [2022-03-17]. "Area wildfires: Buildings in Ranger catch fire; Eastland, Coleman counties hit hard too". Abilene Reporter-News. OCLC 6791837. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Joe Sutton, Amir Vera (21 March 2022) [2022-03-21]. "178 Texas fires have torched more than 108,000 acres in the past week. But one major fire is now under control". OCLC 6791837. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ Pantaleo, Diane (19 March 2022) [2022-03-18]. "What we know about the Eastland Complex fires". Abilene Reporter-News. OCLC 6791837. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ National Weather Service, Derrick Bryson Taylor (29 March 2022). "Texas Wildfire Grows to 33,000 Acres, but Poses Little Threat". New York Times. OCLC 6791837. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Nethery Road Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Nelson Creek Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Chalk Mountain Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "West Bend Fire Information". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2022.