Wildfires in Oklahoma prompt evacuation recommendation for Woodward

Warm, dry and windy weather has fueled multiple wildfires in Oklahoma; officials recommended roughly 4,000 Woodward residents evacuate and a large Beaver County blaze has crossed into Kansas.

Warm, dry and windy weather in western Oklahoma has fueled multiple wildfires and led officials to recommend evacuations in the small city of Woodward. Emergency management director Matt Lehenbauer said the recommendation covers about 4,000 residents and is voluntary because Oklahoma prohibits mandatory evacuations. A large fire in Beaver County was estimated at about 15,000 acres and was reported to have crossed into Kansas. State emergency operations centers in both states were briefing and tracking the fires. Known details: - About 4,000 Woodward residents were advised to evacuate; the recommendation is voluntary under state law. - Oklahoma Forestry Services estimated the Beaver County fire at roughly 15,000 acres, and that fire crossed into Kansas. - Officials reported gusts over 60 mph and unusually warm conditions, with forecasts up to about 25 degrees above normal for parts of the state. - The National Weather Service said more than 21 million people were under fire weather watches and about 11 million were under red flag warnings. Summary: State emergency operations centers are coordinating and tracking response as conditions continue to evolve, and governors in affected states have been briefed. Kansas issued an emergency proclamation warning of dangerous fire weather through Thursday, and forecasts indicate fire-weather conditions could persist through at least Friday as officials continue monitoring.