One year ago, the largest wildfire in state history swept through the Texas Panhandle, burning more than a million acres, killing two people and 10,000 cattle and changing the lives and livelihoods of Texas’ ranching communities.
On this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk with Texas Tribune High Plains reporter Jayme Lozano Carver about her experience covering the wildfires and what the Texas Legislature might do this session to mitigate wildfire risk going forward. We’re also joined by Dr. Carlee Purdum, a University of Houston researcher who is studying the Panhandle’s recovery process and wildfire preparedness in Texas and other gulf states.
Plus, we get an update on Bobo, the one unharmed calf that rancher Dale Jenkins was able to rescue from the blazes, and discuss whether Matthew should be offended he wasn’t on the shortlist for Texas A&M chancellor.
Watch the video above, or subscribe to the TribCast on iTunes, Spotify, or RSS. New episodes every Tuesday.
This week’s TribCast is supported by the Texas Tribune’s speaker’s bureau.
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Disclosure: University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
