Human Interest Human Interest News Weather Texas Cows and Horses Flee Ranches to Outrun State's Largest Wildfire Ever Texas officials say that the Smokehouse Creek Fire — one of several fires currently burning in the state — is only 3% contained and has become the largest in Texas history By Charlotte Phillipp Charlotte Phillipp Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024, and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 1, 2024 03:42PM EST Humans aren't the only ones negatively impacted by the ongoing wildfires in the Texas panhandle. On Tuesday, shocking videos of cows fleeing from ranches near the wildfires began circulating widely on social media. Katlyn Butler shared several clips on Facebook of cattle running away from flames and smoke, which Butler identified as the "start of Smokehouse Creek Fire." In another video, shared by Chad Casey via Storyful, horses run alongside vehicles fleeing the wildfires in Wheeler while smoke surrounds the road. Animal protection organizations and state fire agencies warned of the dangers that wildfires present for animals. Following multiple reports of cattle being injured, lost, or killed by the Texas wildfires — which broke out on Monday and have been called the largest in the state's history, according to NBC News —organizations like the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have encouraged owners to take precautions to keep their animals safe. Herd of Over 60 Goats Makes Shocking Stampede Through Texas Town and Causes 'a Mess' In a post shared on Facebook Wednesday, the TAHC advised cattle owners to "ensure the safety of you and your family" before taking steps to help animals, including allowing animal movement by opening gates and cutting fences. The organization also advised animal owners to "not return to your property until a first responder gives you the okay." On Thursday, the TAHC also announced that it would help provide information about locations where animal feed, veterinary care, and other emergency services for local cattle could be found. Horses fleeing from Texas wildfires with residents in vehicles. Chad Casey via Storyful "Wildfires have the potential to cause catastrophic loss of property, financial, and environment damage to local communities," the TAHC's website states, alongside addresses for animal supply points "that are currently receiving and distributing donated resources to producers impacted by the Panhandle wildfire." Other videos of the Smokehouse Creek Fire — the largest of the current Texas fires, taking up over 1 million acres since Monday — captured by Greenville Fire-Rescue via Storyful show the landscape overtaken by flames and smoke as firefighters drive through a smokey road. 83-Year-Old Grandmother Dies as Largest Wildfire in Texas History Scorches More Than 1M Acres According to an X post from the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Smokehouse Creek Fire — one of 130 fires reported across the state — has likely spread to over one million acres and has been declared 3% contained. In a video shared by the Forest Service Tuesday via Storyful, flames spread rapidly across a street, and thick, dark smoke covers the sky. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fueled by strong winds, dry conditions, and record-setting high temperatures, the size of the Smokehouse Creek Fire has surpassed the 2006 East Amarillo Complex Fire, which burned 907,245 acres, CNN and CBS News reported.