Oklahoma State Emergency Operations Center
Update 10 p.m.
WILDFIRES IMPACTING STATE
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated due to ongoing wildfire conditions and severe weather risk. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma National Guard, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and others.
FIRE REPORTS
Beaver County Emergency Management reports three new fires started today in the county. Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) is supporting initial attack and extended attack firefighting efforts on new and ongoing fires.
Cimarron County Emergency Management reports emergency management delivered food, drinks, and supplies to firefighters working ongoing fires in the county. Woodward County sent four brush pumpers and personnel to Cimarron Co. to assist with ongoing fires. Air support was available earlier today and provided water drops. Texas County provided radio communications support. OFS continues to provide support on fires in the county including the Sharpe Fire, the Tex-OK Fire, and the Ballard/Stateline Fire.
STATE SUPPORT
Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) has been working fires in Beaver and Cimarron counties since May 15. OFS has multiple suppression groups working or staged in western Oklahoma, including in Beaver, Cimarron, Beckham, and Woodward counties. OFS also coordinated air support from Texas and Colorado for fires today, May 17.
Washington County Fire Task Force will stage at Woodward County on Monday, May 18 and work at the direction of OFS on fires as needed in the region. Logan County and Grady County strike teams will stage in Texas County.
Regional personnel from Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management have been deployed to the panhandle since Saturday, May 16 to provide operations support and assistance.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Oklahoma Department of Transportation have provided traffic control road closures for numerous fires in the panhandle since May 14. They have coordinated extensively with law enforcement and transportation teams in Texas and Colorado on additional road closures across state lines.
DIAL 211
For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact 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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