Texas Gov Rick Perry said it was "a very critical situation"
Dozens of wildfires raging in rain-starved Texas are now reported to have engulfed more than 1,000 homes.
The biggest of the blazes - 16 miles (26km) wide - in rural Bastrop County, is burning out of control for a third day, having destroyed 600 homes.
Two people were reported to have died in the Bastrop blaze, a local sheriff said, amid hopes for calmer winds to help control the fires.
Texas has been suffering its worst drought since the 1950s.
Schools closed
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Texas Governor Rick Perry said more than 100,000 acres (40,470ha) had been scorched by at least 57 wildfires in Texas over the past week.
More than 1,000 homes had been burned over the past week, added Texas emergency management chief Nim Kidd.
On Monday, officials said about 500 homes had been destroyed.
Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering said two people had died in the Bastrop fire, in addition to two people who died in east Texas on Sunday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14809156
Note: 7 September 2011 Last updated at 01:05 GMT