The American state of Texas continues on Thursday February 29 to fight against the largest fire in its history, which left at least one dead and ravaged more than 430,000 hectares.

The fire is progressing in the north of this state larger than France, even starting to gnaw away land in neighboring Oklahoma, without firefighters managing to contain the disaster.

According to the Texas Forestry Office, no less than six separate large active outbreaks are to be deplored, the main one of which, called "Smokehouse Creek", killed an 83-year-old woman, whose house went up in smoke.

US President Joe Biden, visiting Texas on the subject of immigration, told the press that 500 federal officials are working to fight the fires, in addition to local firefighters.

“I have asked my team to do everything possible to help protect residents in communities threatened by these fires,” he said, promising federal aid to Texas and Oklahoma, while castigating those who deny the existence of climate change.

“I like some of my Neanderthal friends who still think there is no climate change,” he quipped.

Also visiting Texas to talk about immigration, his rival Donald Trump, favorite in the Republican primaries for the presidential election in November, is contesting the scientific consensus on climate change.

“Two American football fields per second”

Firefighters were counting on a drop in temperature on Thursday to regain the initiative against the flames, while fearing that the situation could worsen during the weekend due to the expected winds.

“Fire conditions will increase across the Plains on Saturday, and even more so on Sunday with the possibility of strong winds across West Texas,” the Texas Forestry Service warned on its website.

According to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers, the Smokehouse Creek fire was growing at a rate of "two American football fields per second."

The state of Texas has declared a state of natural disaster in 60 counties.

Several cities in the United States and Canada experienced record temperatures in February, with some even experiencing summer heat.

According to experts, the El Niño phenomenon is to blame, in addition to climate change.

With AFP

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