Hot, dry and gusty conditions across Oklahoma have fueled several wildfires, leading officials to advise nearly one-third of Woodward residents to evacuate for safety.
An Oklahoma emergency manager said four firefighters were injured in wildfires Tuesday. The pastor said Chris Campbell was among the firefighters injured in the fire, and his wife confirmed he suffered second- and third-degree burns.
The fire burning in Woodward, located about 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, is approaching what officials described as a “worst-case scenario,” said Matt Lehenbauer, director of emergency management for Woodward, although the flames have not yet reached the city’s most densely populated areas, according to NBC News.
Lehenbauer, director of emergency management in Woodward, which has a population of about 12,000, said about 4,000 residents are under an evacuation advisory.
He clarified that the order is voluntary because Oklahoma law does not allow authorities to order mandatory evacuations.
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The Ranger Road Fire has burned about 15,000 acres in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Authorities began evacuations in parts of southwest Kansas and northwest Oklahoma, while law enforcement closed several roads in the affected areas, the BBC reported.
Gov. Laura Kelly ordered a state of emergency on Sunday, warning that dangerous fire weather conditions are expected to continue through Thursday.
State officials said the Kansas Emergency Operations Center was activated Tuesday, with personnel from the state fire marshal’s office, the Kansas Forest Service, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the state Department of Transportation responding. Authorities also closed sections of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 50 due to wind-blown dust significantly reducing visibility.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry said temperatures in western Oklahoma could climb as high as 85 degrees Wednesday.
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The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman said elevated fire weather conditions could persist through at least Friday. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry said conditions are expected to ease starting Thursday as winds shift from the southwest to the northwest, bringing cooler air.
Oklahoma Forestry Services said air support was being sought to fight the fire, but high winds and strong gusts made it unsafe to conduct aerial operations over the fire, The Mirror reported. The agency noted that gusts in excess of 65 miles per hour were recorded. It added that although aerial resources were requested to help contain the fire, they could not be deployed due to high wind speeds.
The governor of Kansas responds
Kansas Gov. Kevin Stitt headed to the X, saying, “I am being briefed on the ongoing wildfire response at the State Emergency Operations Center and remain in close coordination with the Oklahoma Forestry Services.”
Oklahoma Emergency Management and local emergency responders as they work quickly to contain wildfires burning in Beaver and Texas counties. A wildfire in Beaver County continues to spread. Wind gusts are in excess of 65 miles per hour,” he added.
Other fires also broke out in Texas, New Mexico and Missouri after warm, dry air settled over the Central Plains from a weekend storm front, the National Interagency Fire Center said.
Meanwhile, the NWS has issued a fire weather watch warning that dangerous wildfires may occur within the next 12 to 72 hours. In addition, the County Road 169 fire has consumed at least 10,000 acres.