How did the fires spread so far so quickly? This region of Texas and Oklahoma is mostly rangeland where cattle graze. When fires spread that fast, it often means embers are blowing ahead of the actual fire and across any potential firebreaks that exist. It’s dangerous to people and livestock, and it makes it hard to stop the fire’s spread. Texas livestock producers have been trying to move their cattle to safety, but in some cases they had to cut the fences and let the cattle go on their own.