Oklahoma firefighters say western Oklahoma has the highest percentage of chances of more wildfires, even as one in Cotton County burned 1,000 acres and at last word was only 20% under control.
The latest fire update from the Oklahoma Forestry Services showed the Walters Fire in Cotton County had burned 1,052 acres.
A Facebook posting by the Cotton County Emergency Management Office asked for some residents to evacuate on Monday.
“Residents in the path of the fire: from County Road 2660 and 1790 east and north of Walters North to Baseline and east to highway 65 need to evacuate their homes. Sheriffs deputies are also alerting residents ahead of the fire.”
The Sheriff’s office also posted on Facebook.
“Cotton County Sheriffs Office and Cotton County Emergency Management wants to say Thank you Walters Hometown Grocery for donating 10 cases of water for the agencies working the large fire east and north of Walters. Your donation helped greatly and is much appreciated. Walters Hometown Grocery”
The fire was one of the largest reported so far in the state. The Forestry Services stated the White Oak Mountain fire in McCurtain County burned 600 acres and on Tuesday was only 20% contained.
The Coleman Road Fire, also in McCurtain County was 100% contained after burning 235 acres. The Freedom Rock Fire in Pushmataha county was 855 contained after it burned 105 acres.
The Forestry Services cautioned that despite a cool front settling into the state, dry conditions in northwestern Oklahoma and much of western Oklahoma kept fire dangers in place. The Department indicated the highest fire danger indices on Tuesday were in southwestern Oklahoma with the Panhandle and northwestern counties in moderate conditions.