FILE – A charred vehicle sits near the ruins of a home after the property was burned by the Smokehouse Creek Fire, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Fritch, Texas. Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith, whose small town was among the hardest hit last week by historic blazes sweeping across the Panhandle, died Tuesday, March 5, 2024, while fighting a structure fire, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ty O’Neil, File)