Houston emergency management on smoky conditions: 'Stay indoors or limit your time outdoors'

The impact of wildfires in central west Texas is being felt in the Houston area as strong winds delivered clouds of smoke from more than 350 miles away. According to the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management, individuals who suffer from respiratory conditions should take extra precautions.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Houstonians complained of the sight and smell of smoke Friday morning (March 18). The station reported that a cold front ushered smoky conditions into Houston and much of Southeast Texas.

According to Houston CBS affiliate KHOU, the epicenter of these fires is in Eastland County, which is about 90 miles west of Fort Worth.

Five percent of the inferno was contained as of noon, the station reported.

The Texas Wildfire Incident Response System reported that the Kidd fire has consumed at least 30,000 acres.

"The smoke in the air is due to the wildfires in the Eastland Complex," Houston OEM said in a tweet. "No need to be concerned, but if you have respiratory issues consider: Stay indoors if possible, wear a mask if going outside."

According to authorities, the City of Ranger in Eastland County – home to around 2,500 people – lost its police department facility and a century-old church to the blaze, which reportedly took over an area comparable to the size of Sugar Land in Fort Bend County.

Back in Houston, the fires have slightly impacted operations at the city's two main airports, George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby, but no flight delays were reported, according to KHOU.

Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA reported that the fires began last night (March 17), with four infernos, including the Kidd fire, raging as of this morning.

According to the station, crews battling the fires had requested for air support but the high winds proved to be a burden.

"The aircraft will be beneficial to helping slow the spread of the fire and helping to protect structures while ground crews work to build containment lines around the fires and focus on structure protection," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Erin O'Connor told WFAA.