WHEELER COUNTY (April 4, 2009)—A wind-whipped wildfire that has spread over 2,000 acres forced the evacuation Saturday of the Texas Panhandle community of Wheeler, a town of about 1,300 residents just 12 miles from the Oklahoma border.

Residents were evacuating to Elk City, Okla., about 50 miles to the east of Wheeler.

As of late Saturday afternoon, the fire had destroyed two homes and a business.

Winds are so strong, that aircraft can’t be used to battle the flames.

There were no reports of injuries.