Wildfires Impact Borger Refinery

The Texas panhandle has been ravaged by wildfires, but so far, Phillips 66's Borger refinery remains unaffected. Situated just west of the Smokehouse Creek fire, which has already scorched over 1 million acres, the 157,000 b/d refinery is safe for now.

Current Situation

As of 3 p.m. ET, the fire near the Borger refinery remains uncontrolled. However, there are three other active fires to the west:

• The Reamer fire: 2,000 acres burned, 10% contained.
• The Windy Deuce fire: 90,000 acres burned, 25% contained.
• The Magenta fire: 2,000 acres burned, 40% contained.

Potential Threat

The fires are being fueled by dry grass and strong winds, with temperatures soaring above normal. While suppression efforts may be more effective on Wednesday, the Texas Department of Emergency Management has cautioned that conditions will be ripe for further fire outbreaks from Friday through Sunday. Stay tuned for updates as the situation continues to evolve.

Potential Wildfire Activity in Texas Panhandle

The Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) has warned the possibility of additional wildfire activity in the Texas Panhandle from Friday through Sunday. The forecast indicates an increased risk of elevated and critical fire weather conditions due to dry, freeze-cured grasses.

Disaster Declaration by Gov. Greg Abbott

In response to the fires, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties out of the state's total of 254.

Phillips 66 Responds to Wildfires

Phillips 66 has mobilized its Borger Complex Fire Department to combat the fires, with several employees also volunteering as firefighters. While there have been reports of home and property damage among employees, there are no significant impacts on the company's assets at this time.

Limited Impacts on Electric Service

The fires have caused limited disruptions to electric service in Hutchinson County, where the Borger refinery is situated. As of Wednesday afternoon, the PowerOutage website reported 2,208 out of 13,340 customers in the county were without electricity.