Texas nuclear weapons facility pauses operations as wildfires spread

Rapidly moving Texas wildfires on Tuesday prompted evacuation orders in small towns and shut down a nuclear facility (Flower Mound Fire Department via AP)

Rapidly moving Texas wildfires have prompted evacuation orders in small towns and shut down a nuclear facility as strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures fuelled the blaze in the state’s rural Panhandle.

Republican governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties on Tuesday as the largest fire burned nearly 400 square miles, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.