The smoke odor from a wildfire in Texas is spreading to Lubbock and the South Plains. Firefighters from Lubbock are helping with the ‘Smokehouse Creek’ fire in Hutchinson County.
Pantex, the primary facility responsible for assembling and disassembling America’s nuclear weapons, ceased operations on Tuesday night but announced it would resume normal operations on Wednesday.
Canadian, Texas Wildfires in the Texas Panhandle led to evacuations, power outages, and the temporary closure of a nuclear weapons site.
“We have removed our personnel, non-essential personnel, from the site as a precautionary measure,” stated Laef Pendergraft, a spokeswoman for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Production Office at Pantex, at a news conference. The fire brigade on-site is well-equipped and prepared to handle any emergency that may occur at the factory.
Pantex announced on X, previously known as Twitter, early Wednesday that the plant is operating normally for the day shift and all staff must report to work as scheduled.
Pantex is situated approximately 17 miles northeast of Amarillo and around 320 miles northwest of Dallas. Since 1975, this location has served as the primary facility in the United States for assembling and disassembling atomic weapons. In 1991, it constructed the final new bomb while dismantling thousands.
The smell of the Texas wildfire lingers in the air, affecting Lubbock and the surrounding southern plains as firefighters in Hutchinson County battle the ‘Smokehouse Creek’ blaze.
The National Weather Service announced on social media Tuesday night that residents of the City of Lubbock can anticipate smoke from the cold front affecting the area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported on Wednesday morning that the air quality in the Lubbock area will continue to be poor due to smoke moving southward from the Texas Panhandle. Based on estimates, the smoke is expected to clear out of the Lubbock area by later Wednesday, according to LFR.
The NWS recommended taking precautions to safeguard yourself and your pets as the smoke moves through Lubbock.
The National Weather Service advised covering windows, keeping pets home, and, if going outside, limiting physical exertion and considering using a respirator.