Hale County Commissioners Extend Disaster Declaration After Wildfire

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Hale County Commissioners unanimously approved an extension of a local disaster declaration that was initially enacted on February 17 when a large wildfire sparked in the Seth Ward area. The initial declaration was set to last 7 days, but the commissioners chose to extend it through August 23 as the extent of the fire is still under investigation.

Why it matters

Disaster declarations allow local governments to access additional state and federal resources and funding to respond to emergencies like wildfires. This extension indicates the fire's impact is still being assessed and the county may need continued assistance to recover.

The details

Hale County Judge David Mull signed the initial Declaration of Local Disaster on February 17 when the wildfire broke out in Seth Ward. The commissioners voted unanimously to extend the declaration beyond the initial 7-day period, as Judge Mull noted the full extent of the fire is still being investigated.

• The initial disaster declaration was enacted on February 17, 2026.
• The commissioners voted to extend the declaration through August 23, 2026.

What’s next

The commissioners will continue to monitor the situation and the extent of the wildfire's impact, and may further extend the disaster declaration if necessary to access state and federal resources.