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Wildfires spark across Oklahoma, leaving devastation

Wildfires spark across Oklahoma, leaving devastation

Yahoo16-03-2025
OKLAHOMA (KFOR) – Oklahomans braved hurricane-force winds that helped fuel wildfires across the state.
Governor Stitt signed Executive Order 2025-06 declaring a State of Emergency in the following counties:
Cleveland
Creek
Dewey
Grady
Lincoln
Logan
Oklahoma,
Pawnee
Payne
Pottawatomie
Roger Mills
Stephens
Oklahoma Human Services accused of failing to notify authorities about child abuse, neglect investigations
There were over 130 fires throughout 44 counties.
According to Gov. Kevin Stitt, about 170,000 acres have burned across Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Forestry Service is currently working to find the exact numbers.
Stitt said he received a report Friday night that about 293 homes and structures were destroyed.
Below is the latest update from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the state's request for 13 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for the following fires:
840 Road Fire – Leedey, Roger Mills County
Stillwater Fire – Stillwater, Payne County
Luther Fire – Luther/Arcadia/Edmond, Oklahoma County
East Thunderbird Fire – Little Axe/Norman, Cleveland County
Little Salt Creek Fire – Mannford, Creek County
Chandler Fire – Chandler, Lincoln County
Logan County Fire – Guthrie, Logan County
Wildhorse Fire – Velma, Stephens County
Clear Pond Fire – Bethel Acres/Shawnee, Pottawatomie County
Underwood Fire – Yale / Cushing, Payne County
Keystone Fire – Osage, Pawnee County
Barn Fire – Cleveland, Pawnee County
Norge Fire – Chickasha, Grady County
The FMAGs may help reimburse local governments, volunteer fire departments, and other first responders for costs associated with responding to the fires. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of state, local, and tribal government-eligible firefighting costs for the designated fires. Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund.
Fire departments and other agencies that responded to the fires above are advised to document all costs related to equipment and supplies (including fuel), labor costs, travel and per diem, temporary repairs of damage caused by firefighting activities, mobilization, and demobilization.
INJURIES
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 112 injuries related to the fires have been reported by area hospitals.
Burn – 6
Cut/Pierce – 9
Fall – 27
Poisoning – 1
Struck – 12
Transportation Related – 19
Other Fire Related – 38
MASS CARE
The American Red Cross is supporting feeding at shelters and to emergency responders in Cleveland, Oklahoma, Logan, Payne, Stephens, Pottawatomie, and McClain counties. They have served 920 meals. They are also providing emergency supplies.
The Salvation Army will begin providing up to 1,200 meals per day in Stillwater on Sunday, March 16. They will be deploying feeding units to support Stillwater, Mannford, and Pawnee.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is supporting feeding in Stillwater and Pawnee as well. They are providing lunch and dinner in Leedey for 275 people today.
The following sites are open for day or overnight shelter:
1st Methodist Church of Mannford, 100 E Greenwood Ave, Mannford (Overnight)
Ada Comfort Shelter, 115 N Turner St, Ada
Case Community Center, 1050 W Wekiwa Rd, Sand Springs
Charter Oak Elementary, 4900 E Charter Oak Rd, Guthrie
Checotah City Hall, 200 N Broadway, Checotah
Coalgate First Baptist Church, 106 West Hanover, Coalgate
Community Church, I35 & Seward Rd NW Corner, Guthrie
CrossPointe Church Norman, 2601 24th Ave SE, Norman
Elk City First Baptist Church, 1600 W Country Club Blvd, Elk City (Elk City)
Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Boulevard, Shawnee (Overnight)
Hands of Hope Food and Resource Center, 724 W. Main St, Durant (Overnight)
Hugo-Compassion of Christ Ministries, 301 W. Main, Hugo
Life Church Shawnee, 5113 N Harrison, Shawnee
Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1023 W 15, Chandler
Luther Community Center, 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther (Overnight)
Payne County Fair Grounds, 4518 Expo Circle East, Stillwater (Overnight)
Pleasant Ridge Schoolhouse, 125 N. Commercial Ave, Temple
Pryor Impact Center of Oklahoma, 315 N Adair, Pryor (Overnight)
Stephens County Fair Ground, 2002 13th Street South, Duncan
Stillwater Church of Christ, 821 N Duck St, Stillwater
Stillwater High School, 1224 N. Husband St, Stillwater
Stillwater Community Center, 315 W 8th Ave, Stillwater
Stillwater Senior Activity Center, 1015 E 12th Ave, Stillwater
Sunnybrook Christian Church, 421 E Richmond Rd, Stillwater (Overnight)
Vici Community Center, 604 Main St, Vici
West Siloam Assembly of God, 5524 Cedar Drive, Colcord
POWER OUTAGES
Power crews have been working diligently to restore power across the state. Currently, there are 6,300 outages statewide.
PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT
The Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect following today's declaration of emergency for 12 counties devastated by yesterday's wildfires. The law, also referred to as the price gouging statute, prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent for the price of goods and services and helps protect citizens from unfair price hikes. The statute is in effect for Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Stephens Counties.
DIAL 211
For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact your local 2-1-1. Services are available 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1 from your home or cellular telephone. Please only call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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