State firefighters are being warned that Oklahoma might see another outbreak of deadly wildfires like it experienced on Friday when fires left at least four persons dead.
“Another Wildfire Outbreak is possible and given the approaching dry, cold front, a Megafire (burning <100,000 acres) cannot be ruled out,” stated the Oklahoma Forestry Service in its Tuesday wildfire update.
The update said the existing wildfires, many of which are not under control would be challenged by “yet another round off extreme fire weather over critically dry fuels in much of Oklahoma.”
“There is a high significant fire occurrence (>5,000 acres) probability in western Oklahoma with those probabilities extending into the central regions of the state. Another Wildfire
Outbreak is possible and given the approaching dry, cold front, a Megafire (burning <100,000 acres) cannot be ruled out. Near-critical fire weather and increasingly resistant to control fire behavior will remain in place through Friday statewide.”
In western Oklahoma, only 40% of what is called the “840 Road Fire” in Roger Mills/Dewey County,which burned nearly 28,000 acres, is said to be under control.
Much of the state remains under a Red Flag warning as the Forestry Service said the highest concerns Tuesday were existing fires which would be challenged by critical fire weather in high-density population areas and in northwestern and western Oklahoma.
Ongoing Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area:(>100 Acres Timber / >300 Acres Grass/Brush)
• Dirty Pine Fire (Pushmataha County) – 157 Acres / 50% Contained
• Venison Hollow Fire (Adair County) – 402 Acres / 70% Contained
• Doublehead South Fire (Adair County) – 150 Acres / 50% Contained
• Black Fox Fire (Sequoyah County) – 106 Acres / 65% Contained
• Flying J Fire (Latimer County) – 1,154 Acres / 50% Contained
• Plan B Fire (Latimer County) – 800 Acres / 50% Contained
• Ketcher Hollow Fire (Latimer County) – 101 Acres / 70% Contained
• Tully Hollow Fire (Adair County) – 205 Acres / 75% Contained
• Brushy Church Fire (Pittsburg County) – 240 Acres / 85% Contained
• Big Draw Fire (McCurtain County) – 146.4 Acres / 100% Contained
• Cherry Tree Fire (Adair County) – 109.0 Acres / 80% Contained
• Low Gap Lookout Fire (Haskell County) – 394 Acres / 90% Contained
• Hamby Ridge Fire (Delaware County) – 706 Acres / 100% Contained
Fire Activity with OFS Response Outside of the Protection Area: 4 New Fires Burned 571.0 Acres
• Ranch Creek Road Fire (Pawnee County) – 513 Acres / 25% Contained
• 840 Road Fire (Roger Mills/Dewey County) – 27,855 Acres / 40% Contained
• Camargo Fire (Dewey County) – 5,725 Acres / 40% Contained
• Little Salt Creek Fire (Pawnee County) – 11,190 Acres / 25% Contained
• Hickory Hills Fire (Oklahoma County) – 6,643 Acres / 35% Contained
• 33 Road Fire (Logan/Payne Counties) – 32,990.6 Acres/50 Structures / 25% Contained
• 1980 Road Fire (Beckham County) – 2,000 Acres / 65% Contained
• Euchee Valley Fire (Payne County) – 8,512 Acres / 65% Contained
• Hellroaring Creek Fire (Pawnee County) – 10,186 Acres / 80% Contained