Smokehouse Creek Wildfire is largest in Texas HISTORY as 1.1 million acres of charred Panhandle are followed by SNOW: Flurries blanket scorched earth after fatal inferno the size of Rhode Island kills 1 - with smoke seen 7 HOURS away in El Paso

• e-mail

The Smokehouse Creek Fire is officially the largest and most devastating fire in Texas' history - with the killer inferno burning through over 1.1 million acres of land.

As of Thursday, the record-breaking wildfire has scorched through 1,075,000 acres and is three percent contained, with thousands of people evacuating their homes. 

Ghastly winds coupled with the raging flames have charred huge swathes of the Panhandle - and the wildfire is now the equivalent size of the whole of Rhode Island.

In a stark contrast, snow is falling across some parts of the Panhandle - leaving a blanket of snowfall over the blackened earth and dead livestock.

One Texas resident has been confirmed dead in the scorching wildfire - but that figure is expected to rise as homes across the Lone Star State are burned to ashes.

The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department confirmed: 'This is now both the largest and most destructive fire in Texas History.' It's now the second largest in US history.

Thick smoke caused by the cataclysmic fire was visible a seven-hour drive away in El Paso. The National Weather Service said that a cold front pushed the smoke into the region on Wednesday and visibility is some areas was reduced to four miles.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire that has scorched 1,075,000 acres and is at 3 percent contained, making it the largest recorded wildfire in the Lone Star state

In a stark contrast, snow is falling across some parts of the Panhandle leaving a blanket of snowfall over the blackened earth

In Fritch, where up to 50 homes were destroyed, photos show a calf killed and burned trees by the Smokehouse Creek Fire covered in snow on Thursday

Record breaking wildfires raging across the Texas Panhandle have killed at least one person, destroyed homes and burned through over 1.1 million acres

From the sky: The devastating wildfire's destructive path can be seen in this aerial photo 

Canadian, Texas resident Tresea Rankin told CBS News a rolling burning tumbleweed came on to her property and burned down her family home of 38 years. 

'I was Facetiming with my son, who is in the service, and he said "Mom leave,''' she said. As she returned to her charred home she said, 'You lace up your shoes and you do what you gotta do. I gotta have a home.'

The Windy Deuce fire has covered 142,000 acres and 30 percent containment, the Magenta fire has burned 2,500 acres and is at 65 percent contained, the 687 Reamer fire is at 2,000 acres and 10 percent contained, and the Grape Vine Creek fire is at 30,000 acres and 60 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. 

According to the National Weather Service, snowfall totals could be around two inches in the southwest Texas Panhandle, where the fires burned through.

Fritch Mayor Tom Ray estimated up to 50 homes were destroyed by the fires in his town.

In Fritch, photos show a calf killed and burned trees by the Smokehouse Creek Fire covered in snow on Thursday.

Texas Route 136 was covered with a blanket of snow in Amarillo, where the flames blazed through just a day before. 

Photos and videos showed scorched homes and property throughout the Panhandle reduced to piles of ash and scenes of charred vehicles and blackened earth.

Hemphill County emergency management coordinator Bill Kendall described the charred terrain as 'like a moonscape. It’s just all gone.'

He said about 40 homes were burned around the perimeter of the town of Canadian, but no buildings were lost.

The Texas A&M Forest Service raised its Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to three due to the number of fires burning in the state.

According to the forest service, a preparedness level three means wildfire activity 'is impacting several regions of the state as the result of drought, dry vegetation or frequent fire weather events.'

An 83-year-old grandmother has been identified as the first victim of Texas' Smokehouse Creek Fire.

The Texas A&M Forest Service raised its Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to three due to the number of fires burning in the state

Snow covers a home that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek fire in Stinnett

According to the National Weather Service, snowfall totals could be around two inches in the southwest Texas Panhandle, where the fires burned through

One Texas resident has been confirmed dead in the scorching wildfire - but that figure is expected to rise as homes across the Lone Star State are burned to ashes

The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department confirmed: 'This is now both the largest and most destructive fire in Texas History.' It's now the second largest in US history

Texas' wildfires have collectively burned more than 1.1 million acres

Joyce Blankenship, 83, (right) lived in the Scotts Acres neighborhood, and her body was found in Stinnett

Joyce Blankenship, lived in the Scotts Acres neighborhood, and her body was found in Stinnett, Hutchinson County Public Engagement Coordinator Deidra Thomas said in a statement on Wednesday.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott order the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional resources to support the wildfire response operations.

The governor 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.

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.

Dozens of cattle have also been killed, as devastating video footage revealed cattle burned to death in the aftermath of the fires sweeping across Texas.

One clip shows the scattered bodies of cattle that perished due to the flames - spreading at an average rate of 150 football field per minute.

Firefighters have made little progress controlling it, but Thursday’s forecast of snow, rain and temperatures in the 40s offered a window to make progress before temperatures and winds increase this weekend.

Photos showed scorched homes and property throughout the Panhandle reduced to piles of ash and scenes of charred vehicles and blackened earth

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

Dozens of cattle have also been killed, as devastating video footage revealed cattle burned to death in the aftermath of the fires sweeping across Texas

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

A Volkswagen that was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek wildfire sits near other destroyed vehicles, in Canadian, Texas

One clip shows the scattered bodies of cattle that perished due to the flames - spreading at an average rate of 150 football field per minute

Less than an inch of snow is expected, but moisture is not the only benefit, said National Weather Service meteorologist Samuel Scoleri.

'It will help keep relative humidity down for the day, and that will definitely help firefighters,' he said.

Snow and rainfall were expected to end on Thursday afternoon, with dry, windy conditions returning on Friday and critical fire conditions possible again on Saturday and Sunday.

Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the weekend forecast and 'sheer size and scope' of the blaze are the biggest challenges for firefighters.

'I don’t want the community there to feel a false sense of security that all these fires will not grow any more,' he said. 'This is still a very dynamic situation.'