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Wildfires are rapidly spreading across Oklahoma, prompting evacuations and causing widespread power outages. Strong southwest winds, gusting over 55 mph, are driving the fires, making them difficult to control.
In western and central Oklahoma, wildfires have been spreading forcing evacuations.
Emergency officials at the Emergency Operations Center report that the strong winds are preventing the use of air support to combat the fires. The Oklahoma Forestry Services has stated that their resources are stretched thin, with fire teams being redeployed from western to central Oklahoma as conditions shift eastward.
Evacuations were ordered in some neighborhoods in Norman. Norman police said residents in the area from 120th Ave NE to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek & Franklin Road were being told to evacuate. Residents in the area of Etowah to SH-9 between 84th Ave SE & 144th Ave SE were also told they should evacuate.
The city of Stillwater is providing guidance for evacuees, directing those without a place to stay to the Stillwater Community Center according to KFOR TV.
Oklahoma State University says as of 4:50 p.m. the campus was safe and not impacted by any fires. The Colvin Center Annex will be open as a weather refuge location.
Shelters were set up in Woodward at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Building.
The town of Leedey in Dewey County was evacuated. A shelter was also set up at the First Baptist Church in Elk City. Dewey County Emergency Management said shelters were being set up in the Carmargo area.
Shelters were also set up at the Vici Community Building and Town Hall in Vici.
The city of Mannford has expanded evacuation orders. KJRH TV reported Mannford Police were saying they are evacuating everyone from Basin Road to South of Highway 51. That includes the entire town. They are asking everyone to grab belongings and evacuate.
The Osage Nation Police Department said Highway 60 west from Pawhuska is closed until further notice. They are asking people to stay home if they don't have to travel.
At one point more than 80,000 homes and businesses were without power across the state. As of 6:30 p.m. the outages numbered just over 69,000.
To view a statewide outage map, click here. OG&E and PSO also have outage maps available.
High winds and low visibility may impact departing and arriving flights at Will Rogers International Airport on Friday. To check flight cancelations and delays, visit flyokc.com/your-flight.
