SITUATION UPDATE

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 1

April 12 – 9:40 p.m.

Due to high fire danger and wildfires across the state today, the State Emergency Operations Center is activated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas and is coordinating with Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, National Weather Service, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

The National Weather Service has continued a Red Flag Fire Warning for parts of western Oklahoma until 10 p.m. Extreme fire weather conditions will continue across this area through the evening hours. Little recovery will occur overnight due to continued low relative humidity values near 15 percent and strong winds. Dangerous fire weather conditions are expected again tomorrow. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Fire Warning for a large part of Oklahoma again on Friday. Very low relative humidity values near 10 percent will combine with strong southwest winds of 20-30 miles per hour, gusting to 50 miles per hour.

The Governor’s Burn Ban remains in effect for 16 counties: Beaver, Beckham, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Texas, Washita, Woods, and Woodward.

Additional county burn bans are in place for the following counties: Alfalfa, Canadian, Grant, and Major.

Outdoor burning and other activities that could spark a fire are strongly discouraged. Do not throw cigarettes out car windows. Report any suspicious smoke or fires to your local law enforcement or fire authority.

Woodward County Emergency Management reports four fires totaling approximately 115,000 acres have merged into one fire complex. The fire is located about 4.5 miles northwest of Woodward. Two homes have been destroyed in this fire. Another fire is reported south of Woodward. Oklahoma Forestry Services is assisting in Woodward County along with local fire task forces. Evacuations are ongoing and the American Red Cross is operating an evacuee center at Faith United Methodist Church in Woodward.

Lincoln County Emergency Management reports a fire west of Davenport was supported by a National Guard helicopter earlier today. An Oklahoma Forestry Services bulldozer crew also provided assistance with this fire.

Logan County Emergency Management reports a fire 10 miles southeast of Guthrie. An Oklahoma National Guard helicopter provided water drops to assist with the fire.

Osage County Emergency Management reports a fire west of Pawhuska. Nine fire departments are responding to the fire.

Dewey County Emergency Management reports a fire southeast of Leedey. Oklahoma Forestry Services reports the fire has consumed 21,000 acres and continues to burn. An Oklahoma Forestry Services air tanker and helicopter are assisting with this fire. Three task forces also working the fire.

Roger Mills County Emergency Management reports a fire near Durham. An Oklahoma Forestry Services Task Force is assisting Black Kettle National Grasslands and local fire departments.

Oklahoma Forestry Services reports the fire has burned 2,000 acres.

Additional fires have been reported today in Beckham and McClain counties.

For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact your local 2-1-1. Services are available 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1 from your home or cellular telephone. Please only call 911 for emergencies.