by Dean James

URGENT: STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN THIS STATE -Mandatory Evacuations Underway RIGHT NOW!

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Dean James III% AMERICA’S FREEDOM FIGHTERS –

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED!

A series of large fires are burning in northwestern Oklahoma, destructive enough to prompt the evacuations of hundreds of people. Several homes have been destroyed in Woodward County, Weather.com reported.

One of the fires has grown to more than 21,000 acres near Leadey, about 40 miles south of Woodward, CBS News reported. Dry and windy conditions are helping the fires spread. The Oklahoma Forestry Service says the state is still under a “historic fire danger.” A burn ban has been issued in 16 counties, and residents are asked to avoid outdoor grilling.

At the time of publication, the current containment is not known. There are four fires total burning, adding up to 120,000 acres, and a state of emergency was declared in 52 counties in Oregon due to the wildfires and drought conditions, Heavy.com reported.

Governor Mary Fallin today declared a state of emergency for 52 counties due to wildfires that began Thursday, April 12, and ongoing drought conditions. http://www.forestry.ok.gov/110 #okfire

Posted by Oklahoma Forestry Services on Friday, April 13, 2018

“We’re getting our butts handed to us” an Oklahoma Forestry Service official just told me “Life threatening fire conditions”, including 25 mph winds, are severely hampering efforts to extinguish 11 fires burning in western OK Areas affected are rural; 200,000+ acres have burned.”

“We’re getting our butts handed to us” an Oklahoma Forestry Service official just told me
“Life threatening fire conditions”, including 25 mph winds, are severely hampering efforts to extinguish 11 fires burning in western OK
Areas affected are rural; 200,000+ acres have burned pic.twitter.com/aLTiUC7DZu

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) April 13, 2018

Governor Mary Fallin Declares State of Emergency Due to Wildfires, Drought Conditions

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR MARY FALLIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today declared a state of emergency for 52 counties due to wildfires that began Thursday, April 12, and ongoing drought conditions.

The counties included in the governor’s declaration are Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Creek, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

More than 200,000 acres have burned across the state since Thursday, including large fires in Woodward and Dewey counties that have prompted numerous evacuations. Extreme fire conditions are expected again today.

Under the governor’s executive order, state agencies may make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions. The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

The governor’s burn ban remains in effect for 16 counties: Beaver, Beckham, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Texas, Washita, Woods, and Woodward. The governor’s burn ban makes it unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands, or marshes; to build a bonfire or fire; to burn or ignite fireworks; or to burn trash or other materials outdoors in any of the listed counties.

Additional county burn bans are in place for the following counties: Alfalfa, Canadian, Grant, and Major.

“I’m asking all Oklahomans to be vigilant and careful, and to do their part to prevent fires,” said Fallin. “Anything that can be done to minimize fires will help to keep both our firefighters and the public safe.”

The executive order is in effect for 30 days, and could be amended to include additional counties if needed.

Fire Situation Report – April 13, 2018
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry – Forestry Services
PROTECTION AREA STATISTICS* for Reporting Period 0800 04/12/18 thru 0800 04/13/18
NE Area – 9 Fires Burned 325.25 Acres (5-Incendiary, 4-Escaped Debris)
EC Area – 4 Fires Burned 92 Acres (2-Incendiary, 1-Escaped Debris, 1-Escaped Control Burn)
SE Area – 2 Fires Burned 21 Acres (1-Incendiary, 1-Equipment)
Large / Significant Fire Activity within the Protection Area:
 West Liberty Fire (Haskell County) – 418 Acres / 95% Contained
 Pine Springs Ranch (Cherokee County – 200 (Est) / 80% Contained
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area:
 34 Complex (Woodward County) – 115,000 Acres (Est), 0% Contained
 Rhea Fire (Dewey County) – 82,000 Acres (Est), 0% Contained
 Shaw Fire (Roger Mills County) – 3,500 Acres (Est), 25% Contained
 Roadside Fire (Woodward County) – 1,500 Acres (Est), 10% Contained
 66 Fire (Lincoln County) – 150 Acres, 50% Contained
 Anderson Road Fire (Logan County) – 60 Acres, 50% Contained
 Brake Road Fire (Kay County) – 400 Acres (Est) / 90% Contained
 Hwy 11 Fire (Kay County – 350 Acres (Est) / 95% Contained
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: No New activity
FIRE DEPARTMENT STATISTICS from www.firereporting.ok.gov recorded on 04/12/18 thru 04/13/18
 Numerous Fires with reporting ongoing.
Statewide Discussion:
The fire environment unfortunately lived up to the
forecast and predictions yesterday with significant fire
activity in Oklahoma. Very strong burning conditions in
western Oklahoma during the overnight hours on the
heels of blow-up conditions during the afternoon drove
fires to meet the rate of fire spread predictions.
Numerous evacuations have been established and are
ongoing in northwest Oklahoma. An extremely complex
fire environment will be in place today with a cold front
forecast to impact the ongoing fires as well as new fire
occurrence expected. A more widespread Red Flag
Warning will be in place today with a dry line pushing
east complicated by a cold front.
Northwest Oklahoma: Very poor overnight recovery with no relaxation of the burning period will be intensified as a dry
line again pushes east. Ongoing fires will be impacted in the pre-frontal environment by relative humidity values of 9-15%
promoting very receptive fuels and fire spread pushed by southwest winds 18-25 mph gusting 30-45 mph. Winds will shift
clockwise through the day to northwest by nightfall as a slowed frontal boundary approaches. Relative humidity values
will improve in the post-frontal environment; however persistent drying will retain fuel receptiveness and wind speeds will
likely overcome moisture improvement.
Western / Central Oklahoma: Ahead of the cold front, very dry conditions will push into and east of the I-35 corridor
along with southwest winds 20-30 mph gusting in excess of 40 mph at times. Early morning showers south of OKC will
serve as little offset as they eject to the east with the dryness of the atmosphere pushing just ahead of the cold front.
Hazardous fire behavior will occur with any new fire occurrence. Potential for explosive fire growth will be present in the
heavily populated I-35 corridor today.
Fire danger will remain in place focused on the western half of Oklahoma through the weekend and into next week.
Resources: Resource Hotline (800) 800-2481
3 – OFS Task Forces (Woodward/Weatherford/Guthrie)
1 – OHP/OFS Aerial Observation Platform
1 – Air Attack Platform
2 – Type 1 Helicopters
2 – National Guard Helicopters
** County Wildland Task Forces should be prepared for mobilization**
Burn Ban Status:
RED = Governor’s Burn Ban
SOURCE- OKLAHOMA FORESTRY SERVICES