Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas declared a state of emergency for the northern portion of the county. Deputies went door-to-door through the area, alerting residents to the threat. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The Monitor reported the fire was 10 miles wide and was being fueled by 40 mph winds. Authorities closed all lanes of U.S. 281 north of Farm-To-Market Road 1017.
A shelter was set up at Edinburg North High School.
The fire burned in an area that had a mix of unincorporated colonias and sprawling ranch homes.
Lambrecht did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
