Wildfires in Oklahoma have resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to over 140, according to the state’s medical examiner. More than 400 homes and structures have been destroyed, and approximately 170,000 acres have burned as multiple fires spread across the state. Evacuations were ordered as extreme fire weather conditions continued through the weekend. A red flag warning is in place for much of the state from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday due to strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation.
Severe storm conditions across the Midwest and South have contributed to multiple vehicle accidents. In Kansas, a major crash on Interstate 70 near the Colorado border involved over 50 vehicles and resulted in eight fatalities, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Several others sustained injuries. In Texas, four people lost their lives in dust storm-related crashes in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Another individual died in Oklahoma after driving into heavy smoke, as confirmed by Governor Kevin Stitt.
Governor Stitt credited the state’s alert system for providing timely evacuation warnings, stating that residents received notifications on their phones. He noted that, unlike tornadoes, early warnings allowed for evacuations, reducing the risk of fatalities in homes, though property damage remains extensive. A total of 130 fires were reported across 44 counties in Oklahoma, according to the state’s Department of Emergency Management.
The same storm system that fueled high winds across the Plains was also responsible for the tornado outbreak in the Midwest and South over the weekend. Governor Stitt described the weather conditions as a “perfect storm,” citing record-low humidity levels below 10 percent combined with strong winds that dried out the landscape. Efforts to contain the fires are ongoing, with support arriving from Louisiana and Arkansas. A state of emergency was declared for 12 counties in Oklahoma.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center warned of near-historic fire conditions across the Plains. Red flag and high wind warnings were in effect for multiple states, with extreme fire weather conditions impacting Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Several large wildfires burned across central, northern, and western Oklahoma. Residents near Lake Carl Blackwell were advised to evacuate due to particularly dangerous fires in the area.
In Texas, the Windmill Fire in Roberts County reached 11,000 acres and was 50 percent contained as of Friday evening, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The Rest Area Fire in Gray County burned approximately 3,000 acres and was 30 percent contained. Authorities warned of hazardous conditions due to low visibility from blowing dust in northwest Texas and Oklahoma.
