Fire starts in landfill Cell 10 and spreads beyond the landfill
A 911 call reported a fire at the landfill on the afternoon of May 17, 2026; responders found it in the pit designated Cell 10. On May 18, in severe fire weather, it spread beyond the landfill and burned 2,335 acres; 52 homes were destroyed and 25 damaged. The Office of Emergency Management ordered voluntary evacuations. The City said the cause was unknown. Its FY2025 annual financial report, issued June 2026, records the fire as a subsequent event and says the City was engaging consultants to evaluate potential risks and cost estimates.[1][2][3][4]
The State Fire Marshal's report says responders to a 911 call on May 17, 2026 found a fire in the south side of the landfill in the pit designated 'Cell 10', and that on May 18, because of severe fire weather, the fire spread beyond the landfill at about 3:08 p.m. and destroyed over 50 homes north and northeast of it.[1]
⚠ Sources differ
Accounts give different times for the first report of the fire on May 17.
Amarillo Tribune: destroyed 52 nearby homes and damaged a total of 75 structures
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The fire marshal's report cites weather at 4:19 p.m. on May 17 of 8% relative humidity and southwest winds of 21 mph gusting to 44 mph, and on May 18 humidity as low as 8% with winds averaging 18 mph and gusting to 43 mph.[1]
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On May 17 the Amarillo Office of Emergency Management announced voluntary evacuations for residents near Two Deer Trail, Bishop Estates, White Tail Avenue, Blue Quail, Bob White, North Dowell Road and the Quail Canyon area; officials then estimated the fire at 5 acres on landfill property.[2]
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City of Amarillo statement: The City said on May 17: "While the cause is currently unknown, landfill fires can originate from a variety of factors," and "At this time, there is no indication that nearby wildfires caused the landfill fire."[2]
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Note 29 (subsequent events) of the City's FY2025 annual financial report says the fire started May 17, 2026 and spread to the outlying area due to high winds on May 18, burned 2,335 acres before being 100% contained, and that the City is engaging consultants to evaluate potential risks and develop related cost estimates. The report states no cost figure.[4]
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No official cause of ignition has been stated. The State Fire Marshal's Office classified the cause as undetermined, and the City has not publicly attributed the fire to any operational condition at the landfill.[1][8][9]
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As of October 10, 2026 no City cost figure for the fire response, damage or claims had been published in the sources reviewed; the FY2025 annual financial report says cost estimates were being developed.[4]
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City Manager Grayson Path: The Tribune reported Path said the Emergency Operations Center received a report at around 2:51 p.m. that the fire had broken out of the landfill; the article does not state the day. The State Fire Marshal's report gives about 3:08 p.m. on May 18 for the spread beyond the landfill.[7][1]