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Amarillo TX Local News Breaking news Wildfires Continue Burning Across Panhandle: Multiple wildfires are actively burning across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles as of Tuesday evening. The Lavender fire, located 5 miles south of Boys Ranch, has grown to 500 acres and is 0% contained, moving northeast at 3-5 mph. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Valley De Oro, affecting areas including Highway 385 south of Boys Ranch and Tascosa Road southeast of Boys Ranch [1] . Power Restoration Unde...
Wildfires Continue Burning Across Panhandle: Multiple wildfires are actively burning across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles as of Tuesday evening. The Lavender fire, located 5 miles south of Boys Ranch, has grown to 500 acres and is 0% contained, moving northeast at 3-5 mph. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Valley De Oro, affecting areas including Highway 385 south of Boys Ranch and Tascosa Road southeast of Boys Ranch [1].
Power Restoration Underway: Xcel Energy has begun restoring power following a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that affected approximately 14,277 customers, plus an additional 2,223 customers affected by weather-related outages. As of 8:45 p.m. Feb. 17, about 6,400 customers remained without power. The utility expects most customers to be restored Tuesday night, though some outages may extend into Wednesday due to the scale of the event and the 2,500 miles of lines de-energized during the PSPS [1][2].
Fatal Downtown Crash: One person is dead and five others injured after a crash in downtown Amarillo Monday evening. The crash occurred on N. Fillmore between S. 1st Avenue and N. 1st. Police say a 17-year-old driver showed signs of alcohol impairment [1][3].
Commercial Structure Fire Contained: Amarillo fire crews have brought a large commercial structure fire near Soncy Road and Heritage Hills under control as of Feb. 15 [1].
Georgia Street Closure Begins Thursday: Starting Thursday, Feb. 19, Georgia Street will be fully closed from SL 335 to just south of Daytona Avenue as part of the ongoing Georgia Street Reconstruction Project. The closure is expected to remain in place through May 31. Detours will route southbound traffic via Farmers Avenue to Western Street, then to SL 335 and back to Georgia Street [1][4].
Critical Fire Weather Continues: The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings, High Wind Warnings, and Blowing Dust advisories for the Amarillo area through the evening hours of Feb. 17. Wind gusts reached above 65 mph in some areas, with gusts up to 70 mph possible [1][5].
What This Means for Residents:
Forecast: Conditions are expected to improve overnight with lighter winds, but winds are forecast to ramp back up Wednesday to a steady 35 mph with 50-plus mph wind gusts possible. Smoke and fire activity near Highway 87 north of Amarillo may cause road closures as the Valley De Oro fire moves east along the Canadian River Valley [1][2].
Emergency Preparation: The Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management and City departments are monitoring conditions and coordinating with public safety partners. Residents should stay aware, stay prepared, and stay safe [5].
Scouting America Flag Retirement Service - President's Day: Scouting America will accept frayed or torn American flags for proper retirement on President's Day as part of a community service event. This provides residents an opportunity to respectfully retire worn flags [1].
Transformation Park's Temporary Day Shelter Opening Soon: The Hub, Transformation Park's temporary day shelter, will open soon to serve unhoused Amarilloans. Former Guyon Saunders Resource Center employees will continue offering services in the new space [1].
WTAMU Spring Career and Internship Expo - Thursday: West Texas A&M University will hold its spring Career and Internship Expo on Thursday, providing students opportunities to connect with employers [1].
Federal Funding for Ports-to-Plains Infrastructure: President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act into law on Feb. 3, allocating $19.24 million for planning infrastructure and safety along the Ports-to-Plains Alliance corridor. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX13) secured $2 million of that total for projects in the Amarillo area, benefiting Loop construction. The ongoing project aims to connect interstates [1].
Georgia Street Reconstruction Project: The City of Amarillo is continuing reconstruction efforts along South Georgia Street from Hollywood Road to Burk Lane, approximately 1.5 miles. The project includes pavement widening, drainage improvements, and utility relocations. Construction began in May 2025 and is scheduled for completion in November 2028 [1][4].
Region 16 ESC Employees Eligible for Half-Off Tuition at WT: More than 11,000 Region 16 ESC employees, their spouses, and dependents are now eligible for half-off tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University. Students can enroll as soon as summer 2026 [1].
Panhandle School Closures: Some Panhandle schools closed on Feb. 17 due to possible power shutoffs [1].
High School Sports: UIL High School Girls Basketball Playoffs Bi-District Round scores were reported on Feb. 17. Holy Cross advanced in playoffs with a dominant 68-26 victory over Southcrest. Palo Duro defeated Lubbock Cooper 71-44 in their regular season finale [1][6].
Valentine's Day Shooting Suspect Arrested: Amarillo police arrested a man for shooting another man on Valentine's Day near an Amarillo supermarket. Christopher Williams, 28, was hospitalized after the incident and is now facing charges. One man was wounded and faces multiple charges after police responded to a shooting in the area of 500 Jason Avenue [1][3].
PACE Unit Pursuit Ends in Arrest: An Amarillo man is in Randall County Jail on a federal hold after a brief police pursuit ended in a rollover crash. The Amarillo PACE unit pursuit resulted in the recovery of a loaded rifle and meth [1].
Love Endures in Amarillo: Residents of The Legacy reflected on decades spent together in a heartwarming story about enduring love in the Amarillo community [1].
Ogallala Life Expanding Rehydration Efforts: Ogallala Life will expand rehydration efforts in the Panhandle with a newest project aiming to engage and inspire the public [1].
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