Wildfires are raging in Texas prompting evacuation orders for several areas while authorities shut down a nuclear facility.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that they have devastation in 60 counties as the fire burned nearly 400 square milesaccording to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Authorities have not said what caused the firewhich broke out in sparsely populated counties surrounded by plains.

“Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take safety precautions”Abbott said.

At the same time, a nuclear weapons facility ceased operations and was closed as fires raged out of control near its facilities. Pantex issued a statement online saying it had suspended operations until further notice.

“The fire near Pantex has not been contained”, the company said. “Response efforts have shifted to evacuations. There are a small number of non-essential personnel remaining on site as a precaution.”

Since 1975, Pantex is the primary assembly and disassembly site for atomic bombs in the US. It assembled the last new bomb in 1991. Since then, it has dismantled thousands of weapons.

Pantex is located 30 miles east of Amarillo.

Multiple fires were reported in Hemphill and Hutchinson counties near the Oklahoma borderwhere an evacuation was also ordered.
Texas state Sen. Kevin Sparks said an evacuation order had been issued for Canada City, a town of about 2,000 people about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo, and other areas.

Evacuations were also ordered in nearby Miamiwhile schools in the area will remain closed on Wednesday.

Evacuations also took place in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoeaccording to the National Meteorological Service in Amarillo.