Wildfire Destroys 100 Texas Homes as Residents Evacuate

May 12, 2014 — -- At least 100 homes were destroyed and 700 residents were evacuated because of a wildfire in the Texas panhandle, authorities said.

The Hutchinson County grass fire has had plenty of fuel provided by high winds and dry conditions, Fritch Police Chief Monte Leggett said.

“With the wind blowing the way it is, and the hot spots, the wind keeps switching from one direction to another so it's almost impossible [to fight],” Leggett said. “Plus, until daylight or they [have] got a lot better visibility, it's gonna be tough.”

Hutchinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Danny Richards said emergency crews from 26 counties were assisting. The fire was about 50 percent contained early today, he said, with a cold front giving firefighters optimism that the fire would be contained this morning.

Richards told ABC News that the fire had possibly burned more than 1,000 acres.

“It’s a disaster, and many people have lost their homes,” Richards said.