A series of legislative hearings will start next week into the massive, and deadly, wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.
Fire swept through the Mendota Ranch in the Texas Panhandle a few weeks ago. Images from the burn zone are unforgettable, and all too familiar for rancher Jason Abraham. "It's like Groundhog Day. It's like every year we have the same problems. Like, we never make any headway with the Texas Forest Service," said Abraham. Abraham was appointed by House Speaker Dade Phelan to a special committee on the panhandle wildfires, which includes three state lawmakers. Rep.
"A picture of a broken utility pole, provided to FOX 7 by Abraham, is an example of another big talking point for the hearings. It’s believed a downed power line sparked the Smokehouse Creek Fires, one of the larger Panhandle fires. Abraham says he will be asking utility companies some hard questions about maintenance programs.
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