By Addison Kliewer & Jonathan Greco
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WEST OKLAHOMA (KOCO) — Oklahoma isn’t done with the fire danger after warnings prompted evacuations and injured firefighters in the western part of the state, as wildfires burned thousands of acres.
Gov. Stitt requests resources from across Oklahoma, out of state to help with wildfires
On Tuesday, evacuations were issued in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties. More than 155,000 acres burned across Oklahoma.
The fire risk continues Wednesday, with the danger increasing in central Oklahoma, including the OKC metro.
What to Know
Two wildfires near Woodward have been contained, and evacuation orders were lifted. Evacuation orders were still in place for the town of Tyrone, which is in Texas County, at about 8 p.m. Wednesday brings another high fire danger day, with a red flag warning stretching all the way to the Oklahoma City metro. Numerous structures were destroyed in Woodward, Texas and Beaver counties, including two USDA facility buildings. Four firefighters were injured while battling the flames across Oklahoma. Another High Fire Danger Day Wednesday The fire danger is higher on Wednesday than it was on Tuesday, especially in central Oklahoma and the OKC metro.
KOCO 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Conder says humidity has absolutely tanked for Wednesday because of a dry line that moved through the state.
Another red flag warning has been issued for western, southwestern, central and northern Oklahoma. Counties in the OKC metro are all included in the warning.
The area with the highest risk of seeing fires is western and northwestern Oklahoma. The risk is 3 out of 5. Southwestern to central and east-central Oklahoma have a 2 out of 5 risk, and it’s 1 out of 5 in western Oklahoma.
Fire Danger Continues Thursday
Oklahoma won’t be done with the fire danger on Wednesday, as the threat increases throughout the state on Thursday.
Jonathan says winds pick up and the humidity drops. The risk for central, western and northeastern Oklahoma is 3 out of 5. Surrounding areas have a 2 out of 5 risk.
The OKC metro is included in the 3 out of 5 risk zone.
While a red flag warning hasn’t been issued yet for Thursday, much of the state outside of southeastern Oklahoma is under a fire weather watch. Jonathan expects that to be upgraded to a red flag warning.
Relief is coming in the form of a cold front this weekend.
Wednesday Burn Bans
The Oklahoma Forestry Services officials say five counties are under a burn ban on Wednesday. Those counties include Texas, Cleveland, McClain, Garvin and Pottawatomie.
You can see Oklahoma Forestry Services’ burn ban map here.
Woodward Fire
On Tuesday afternoon, evacuations were issued for the southwest parts of Woodward near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west. Those evacuation orders were lifted on Tuesday evening.
Woodward Emergency Management said at least three structures were destroyed, including two at a USDA facility.
At least 2,000 acres burned in what is being called the “43 Road Fire.”
KOCO 5 First Alert Storm Chaser Amanda Benton was in the city, where heavy black smoke was seen filling the sky. Open the video player below to watch.
A second fire popped up southeast of Woodward, near Hunter Road and East Hanks Trail, in the evening hours. Firefighters told KOCO 5 that no evacuations were planned for the wildfire on the southeast side of town.
At about 6:10 p.m., the Woodward County emergency manager provided an update on the fire. Open the video player below to watch.
He explained that the evacuation area is south of Highway 412, which runs east and west through the center of Woodward, and 13th Street, which runs north and south. He said that the southwest part of Woodward, a heavily wooded area, was being evacuated.
The fire was burning through an area previously impacted by a tornado in 2012, which resulted in six deaths and the destruction of 90 homes.
“It’s in an area that’s been impacted already. As we talked about years ago, we’ve been on, unfortunately talking about a number of incidents that happened in this area right now,” he said.
Beaver County Fire
The Beaver County Emergency Management said numerous outbuildings were destroyed in a wildfire known as the “Ranger Road Fire.”
Oklahoma Forestry Services officials said they estimate about 145,000 acres burned in Beaver County from the wildfires.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted pictures of a fire in Forgan, where Trooper Travis Burgess has shut down the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64. Authorities said the fire has crossed the highway.
Forgan is a town in Beaver County that’s more than 220 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
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Texas County Fire
Texas County Emergency Management reported two wildfires on Tuesday. One of the fires, known as the “Side Road Fire,” started after a seven-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 54, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Emergency Management.
Evacuation orders were issued for a wildfire known as the “Stevens Fire.” Those orders were still in place for the town of Tyrone, which is in Texas County, at about 8 p.m. The community was told to evacuate at about 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Texas County fire moved over the state line into Kansas.
Shelters were opened in Liberal, Kansas, for those displaced by the fire at CrossPoint Church, 204 North Sherman Avenue.
At least five structures were destroyed by the fires, and more than 8,300 acres burned in Texas County.
Oklahoma Fire Warnings and Evacuations
Evacuations were still in place Tuesday evening for the community of Tyrone in Texas County.
The wildfire that prompted evacuations for the areas southwest of Woodward, near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west, was contained and orders were lifted on Tuesday evening.
Evacuations were issued for Beaver County, near the community of Gate, after a wildfire sparked.
Mass Care Shelters
The American Red Cross will provide food for those forced to evacuate at the shelters below. The Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief will provide food for first responders in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties.
Cheyenne & Arapaho ERC: Woodward, Oklahoma
Mooreland Community Centers: 105 SE Fifth St., Mooreland, Oklahoma
Mooreland United Methodist Church: 302 S. Elm, Mooreland, Oklahoma
Reported Injuries
Four firefighters were injured while responding to the Beaver County wildfires. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported a fire truck from Rosston Fire overturned, injuring three firefighters.
They were transported to hospitals in the area.
The Oklahoma Forestry Services also said another firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital on Tuesday. It wasn’t clear who the firefighter was or where the incident happened.
State’s Response to Wildfires
Gov. Kevin Stitt joined KOCO over the phone after being briefed at the Emergency Operations Center about the fires burning across the state on Tuesday.
“We’ve evacuated the town of Tyrone and then right now the big fire we’re watching is southwest of Woodward,” Stitt said.
Gov. Kevin Stitt gives update on wildfires as Oklahoma braces for escalating fire danger Stitt said that state resources, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, were assisting with evacuations, and the Oklahoma Forestry Department and local firefighters were actively engaged in combating the fires.
However, helicopters and other aerial assets were unable to fly due to strong winds and smoke.
“Right now, we do not have any reports of homes being damaged in Woodward. So, that’s a good thing,” he said. “And we hopefully we get that line kept out of Woodward proper.”
The governor has been in contact with local officials in Woodward to assess their needs and coordinate state support.
“I’ve already talked to the mayor and the city manager and Woodward to find out what resources they needed and what they were seeing on the ground there,” Stitt said.
He has instructed forestry assets from the eastern part of the state to assist in the firefighting efforts.
“Most of them are already there just to put every fire hose we have and every bulldozer, make sure that we get those lines prepared, and then we’ll just we’re trying to fight those wildfires and keep them out of those major population areas,” Stitt said.
Stitt acknowledged the fire threat is expected to increase, with the potential for fires to move into central and eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s supposed to move a little bit more to the middle part of our state, and then maybe on Thursday to the eastern part of our state as well,” he said. “They’re going to get me an emergency declaration for that part of the state that will allow me to request assets from other states.”
Air assets have already been requested from Texas, although conditions remain too windy for them to operate.
“We just want to make sure I give them all the tools they have to be able to fight these fires and keep Oklahoma safe,” Stitt said. “So, man, we just hope it’s not like last March where it went crazy. But that’s why I’ve got every asset possibly in the state over there in the western part of our state right now.”
Crashes Due to Smoke
The Woodward County emergency manager said at least one firetruck was involved in a crash due to low visibility caused by smoke. There was no information on if anyone was injured.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported a fire truck from Rosston Fire overturned, injuring three firefighters.
The “Side Road Fire” in Texas County started after a seven-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 54, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Emergency Management.
Advice for Motorists
Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials also are using the situation to remind motorists not to drive into smoke as the fire danger continues throughout the week.
“Be careful out there,” the Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted on social media.
Firefighters in Woodward told KOCO’s Amanda Benton that evacuations caused traffic issues through town.
Reporting Damage
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking residents impacted by the fires to report damages to their property at damage.ok.gov. Reporting damage helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts and can help connect residents with resources. Residents can report damage to homes, businesses or agriculture through the online survey, according to the department.
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