A nearly 4,000-acre wildfire is still burning near Altus in the southwest part of the state of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Forestry Service reports the Salt Fork Fire in Jackson County is about 80% contained. It reported the swatch of destruction at 3,656 acres as of Wednesday morning. The fire was still burning near the small town of Martha located northwest of the city of Altus.
Several other wildfires were reported across the state as dry conditions fueled them. However, they were much smaller in size compared to the Salt Fork Fire.
H&L Fire (Adair County) – 174 Acres / 100% Contained
• 234 Fire (Canadian County) – 317 Acres / 100% Contained
• High Ground #1 Fire (Cherokee County) – 304 Acres / 90% Contained
• Little Fourche (Latimer County) – 100 Acres est. / 70% Contained
• Salt Fork Fire (Jackson County) – 3,656 Acres / 80% Contained
• Little Antler (Cherokee County) – 250 Acres / 85% Contained
• Round Mountain Fire (Latimer County) – 252 Acres / 80% Contained
The most recent Drought Monitor showed more growth of what it calls “Extreme Drought.”
But the Forestry Service expects the remainder of the week to include “hot for March and dry conditions.” It also anticipates a “large fire potential” as a cold front enters the state on Sunday. The Service says as a result, the wildfire potential “will ramp up and potential for significant fire occurrence will
need to be evaluated as fire environment alignment becomes clearer.”
The Service said conditions continue to degrade with much of the area long and north of I-44 eclipsing the 90th percentile. It said the drying conditions translate to a “notable increase” in the potential fore wildfires and will likely lead to additional resource requirements during initial attack and longer period of resource commitment to contain fires.