Texas firefighters battled several major wildfires across the Panhandle region on Wednesday, with the Smokehouse Creek fire becoming the second-largest in state history, burning over 500,000 acres.

Fueled by strong winds, dry conditions, and record-breaking temperatures, the fires erupted on Monday and spread rapidly the following day. Evacuations were ordered, schools were closed, and the nation’s primary nuclear weapons facility was temporarily shut down as a precaution.

The Smokehouse Creek fire, located north of Stinnett, has consumed an area roughly the size of 800 square miles, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Another fire, Windy Deuce, burned 40,000 acres in Moore and Potter counties, with 20% containment reported.

The cause of the fires remains unknown, and the number of destroyed buildings is still being assessed. The fires burned through sparsely populated areas, but their intensity has caused significant damage.

These Texas wildfires were part of a broader swath of extreme weather events across the country on Tuesday, including tornadoes in Illinois and record-breaking heat in the eastern US.

While fire conditions remain mostly unchanged, the National Weather Service in Amarillo reported a slight improvement as temperatures decrease and wind weakens. Rain and snow are expected on Thursday, which could help firefighters gain control of the blazes.