Texas battles second-biggest wildfire disaster in state history, 1 dead

A rapidly spreading Texas wildfire has killed one person, forced residents to evacuate, cut off power to homes and businesses, and briefly paused operations at a nuclear weapons facility, Report informs referring to the BBC.

The second-largest fire in Texas history, it has burned 850,000 acres of land north of the city of Amarillo.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties.

Dry grass, high temperatures and strong winds have fuelled the conflagration.

In Hutchinson County, one of the hardest-hit areas, public engagement coordinator Deidra Thomas told CNN one person had died in the blazes, although she did not name the victim.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said that the winds had diminished slightly, helping to moderate the fire's spread. It remained 3% contained as of Wednesday afternoon, however.

Rain was expected in the state's northern panhandle on Thursday, which may aid efforts to extinguish the blaze.