Wildfire Situation Update 1
April 7, 7 p.m.
WILDFIRES IMPACTING STATE
Due to high fire danger and wildfires across the state, the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated since Wednesday, April 6. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) 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).
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for western Oklahoma as well as some northeastern Oklahoma counties.
County burn bans are in place for the following 19 counties: Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woodward, Major, Dewey, Roger Mills, Custer, Payne, Canadian, Greer, Kiowa, Jackson, Tillman, Comanche, Colton, Jefferson, Garvin.
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.
FIRE REPORTS
Beaver County Emergency Management reports the 23 Fire, a large wildfire five miles northeast of Forgon, triggered a fire warning for areas of north central Beaver County. American Red Cross is providing meals for firefighters in Forgon this evening. Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) reported that the Beaver River Fire, another large fire in Beaver County that began on Tuesday, has burned 24,537 acres as of this morning. OFS and numerous fire departments have responded to both fires in Beaver County.
Harper County and Woodward County Emergency Management reported the North Canadian Fire split into two fires and triggered a fire warning with evacuation for Fort Supply in Woodward County earlier today. Residents have been allowed to return their homes. Two Oklahoma National Guard helicopters provided water drops for the fire while OFS and multiple county fire task forces have provided ground firefighting support. OFS reports the fire has burned an estimated 2,000 acres.
At least nine additional fires have been reported today in Choctaw, Comanche, Ellis, Grant, Greer, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie counties
DIAL 211
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.
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