Panhandle residents begin rebuilding, even as fight to contain fires continues

By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas Tribune March 3, 2024 “Panhandle residents begin rebuilding, even as fight to contain fires continues” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. CANADIAN — Every time she hears a firetruck, Linda Vigil’s heart jumps. Last Tuesday, as a fast-moving grass fire surrounded her hometown from all directions, she closed up her flower shop and rushed to pick up her teenage daughter and son from school. Unsure of where to go, the three fled south. Vigil had been keeping track of the fires through social media. They spent over an hour trying to make what’s usually a 35-minute drive to Wheeler but got stuck in traffic. Smoke began to creep into the car. They closed the windows, shut the vents and covered their faces. Vigil thought they were about to die. Stuck in limbo, they did the only thing they could: wait for the traffic to pick up. The family eventually...