Oklahoma declares state of emergency as dangerous fire weather remains across Plains after wildfire outbreak
AMARILLO, Texas – Dangerous fire weather conditions remain across the Plains after a powerful windstorm sparked a wildfire outbreak Tuesday, prompting evacuations in the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, and Kansas.
At least four firefighters have been hospitalized in Beaver County, Oklahoma, where the Ranger Road Fire has scorched more than 145,000 acres, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management told FOX Weather.
LIVE UPDATES: SEARCH FOR MISSING SIERRA SKIERS, FIRES RAGE IN THE PLAINS AS BLIZZARD BLASTS MIDWEST
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency Wednesday across Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties, which are being threatened by the Ranger Road Fire.
Texas and Kansas activated wildfire response resources ahead of the outbreak.
Dangerous fire weather conditions will again be in place Wednesday, driven by winds from a strengthening area of low pressure over Colorado.
Dry conditions have made the Plains vulnerable to any new fire that sparks or any embers from existing wildfires that are carried by those wind gusts.
Powerful wind gusts caused a multi-car pileup on Interstate 25 in Pueblo, Colorado that killed five people on Tuesday.
FIVE DEAD IN 30+ CAR PILEUP ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN COLORADO AMID VICIOUS WINDS
Three other wildfires that started Tuesday have each grown to more than 2,000 acres in the Oklahoma Panhandle, while two wildfires have both swelled to more than 9,000 acres near Amarillo, Texas.
Most of Tuesday's evacuations have been lifted around Woodward, Oklahoma — a city with a population of about 12,000, which is being threatened by the 43 Fire.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol shut down U.S. 64 East of Forgan, as the Ranger Road Fire rapidly spread.
Several Kansas towns along the Oklahoma border, including Englewood and Ashland were threatened by the Ranger Road Fire as it spread over the state line.
LIVE UPDATES: DEADLY STORM SPARKS RAGING WILDFIRES AND 70 MPH WINDS, BLIZZARD THREATENS THE MIDWEST
Evacuations were lifted Tuesday night in Herndon, Kansas, after a wildfire threatened the Rawlins County community near the Nebraska border. County officials said the fire is 80 percent contained.
Kansas state officials closed Interstate 70 on Tuesday due to powerful blowing dust that reduced visibility, while the Kansas Department of Transportation closed U.S. Highway 50 near Garden City because of high winds that caused numerous crashes.
Mandatory evacuations were issued Tuesday in Valle de Oro, Texas, due to the Lavender Fire. Firefighters in the Amarillo area are battling that blaze alongside the 8 Ball Fire, which together are burning across Potter, Oldham and Armstrong counties.
More exceptionally dry and windy conditions are expected Wednesday across southern Colorado, including Pueblo, Kansas, Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico.
Critical fire weather conditions also cover portions of the Midwest, specifically Iowa.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, a cold front later in the week should bring cooler temperatures and some precipitation, offering some wildfire threat relief.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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