Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas is now state's second-largest blaze on record after scorching more than 500,000 acres - with flames spreading at rate of 150 football fields EVERY MINUTE

Wildfires sweeping across the Texas Panhandle have prompted evacuations, power outages and temporarily shutdown a nuclear weapons facility.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned 500,000 acres since igniting on Monday, making it the second-largest wildfire on record in the Lone Star state, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The flames have spread at an average rate of 150 football field per minute, according to CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller. 

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the wildfires.

'Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe,' Abbott said.

Over 5,400 people in Texas were without power Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.

Lumber burning from the Smokehouse Creek Fire in a storage yard in Canadian, Texas

The Grape Vine Creek Fire has reached 30,000 acres, the Reamer Fire has scorched 2,000 acres, Windy Deuce Fire has burned 40,000 acres and the Magenta fire has blazed through 2,000 acres

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned 500,000 acres since igniting on Monday, making it the second-largest wildfire on record in the Lone Star state

The flames of the Smokehouse Creek Fire have spread at an average rate of 150 football field per minute. Remains of plants burnt by the Smokehouse Creek Fire are pictured

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the wildfires

The remains of a vehicle sit in a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire

A view of charred grassland that was burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire

Over 5,400 people in Texas are without power Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us

Gusty winds of up to 60 mph, dry conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures have fed the blazes

The Pantex plant, the country's main facility that assembles and disassembles America's nuclear arsenal, had evacuated most of its personnel on Tuesday night as the fires raged out of control near its facility.

Early Wednesday, Pantex tweeted that the facility 'is open for normal day shift operations' and that all personnel were to report for duty according to their assigned schedule. 

'The Smokehouse Creek fire is being fueled by southwesterly winds to 60 mph and is rapidly spreading east-northeast towards the Texas town of Canadian,' AccuWeather severe weather expert Guy Pearson said. 

Gusty winds, dry conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures have fed the blazes. 

The Grape Vine Creek Fire has reached 30,000 acres, the Reamer Fire has scorched 2,000 acres, Windy Deuce Fire has burned 40,000 acres and the Magenta fire has blazed through 2,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. 

Evacuations were ordered in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoe, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo.

The Canadian Independent School District cancelled classes on Wednesday.  

'Homes have burned in almost every direction,' Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told local newspaper The Canadian Record.

The Pantex plant, the country's main facility that assembles and disassembles America's nuclear arsenal, had evacuated most of its personnel on Tuesday night as the fires raged out of control near its facility

A view of a home that was burned by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Canadian, Texas

'Homes have burned in almost every direction,' Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson told local newspaper The Canadian Record

A charred vehicle sits in the driveway of a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek Fire. The Hansford County Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook, 'Structures and Houses lost in Hemphill County inside and outside of Canadian'

Evacuations were ordered in Skellytown, Wheeler, Allison and Briscoe, according to the National Weather Service in Amarillo

Randall County, Potter County and the City of Amarillo had declared a local state of disaster, according to the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management

The remains of a bicycle sit in front of a house that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire. The Canadian Independent School District cancelled classes on Wednesday

The weather forecast provided some hope for firefighters - cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain on Thursday

Randall County, Potter County and the City of Amarillo had declared a local state of disaster, according to the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management.

The Hansford County Office of Emergency Management said on Facebook, 'Structures and Houses lost in Hemphill County inside and outside of Canadian.' 

'Multiple areas in Fritch and surrounding areas evacuated and multiple houses lost to the fires.' 

The weather forecast provided some hope for firefighters, with cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain forecast on Thursday.

AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin said: 'Winds on Wednesday are expected to be 10-20 mph which is much calmer than Tuesday. This should aid in firefighting efforts.'