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Texas Wildfires Slow Down

DISASTERS

Calming winds offer firefighters a chance.

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Eric Gay / AP Photo

Winds have finally calmed in Texas, giving firefighters their best chance to contain the wildfires that have devastated the state. Firefighters have contained about 30 percent of the fire raging in Bastrop, near Austin, which has destroyed 800 homes, killed two people, and scorched 45 square miles—and is just one of 180 fires that have broken out in Texas over the past week. The fires were fueled by winds from Tropical Storm Lee, which has since moved out of the region. Humidity is also moving in, and authorities expect to report more containment Wednesday. In total, the fires have burned 1,000 homes and killed four people.

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