Crews Battle New Wildfire Northwest of Guymon as High Winds Return

Guymon police urged residents on the northwest side of town to evacuate to Victory Center at NW 5th and N Quinn or Connection Church at 1901 N Lelia after a new wildfire ignited northwest of Guymon Thursday, March 5. Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties, and officials say supply donations for crews and responders — Gatorade, water, lip balm, eyewash and sandwiches for more than 100 people — can be dropped off at the fire department on 24th Street.

Texas County Sheriff’s Department released video of the burning area; the department’s posted material included the line "authorities said high winds that day contributed to the ignition and rapid spread potential, and c" as it captured smoke and moving flames on the landscape. Myhighplains also reported, "Texas County reports that another day of high winds brings another fire. Officials said crews arrived on the scene fast and are currently" — that sentence appears truncated in the source.

State coordination increased as the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated due to critical fire weather and high winds across Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said the EOC is ready to assist cities, counties and other agencies with resource requests. Oklahoma Forestry Services has fire suppression teams staged in Guymon and Woodward, and News9 reported a third team was scheduled to set up in Shawnee that same day.

The larger northwest Oklahoma situation includes multiple active fires. News9 reported the Woodward fire is about 20% contained and wrote that "Wildfires in northwest Oklahoma have burned over 200 square miles across Woodward and Beaver counties." In other News9 copy, the outlet also reported that "Wildfires have burned more than 300,000 acres as firefighters continue battling flames amid ongoing high fire danger," figures that have not been reconciled in available reporting.

Weather conditions remain a central concern. News9 cited record heat, low humidity and wind gusts up to 60 mph as factors that fueled the Woodward fire, while Okcfox noted residents reported "a lot of smoke and dust, along with winds up to 80 miles per hour." Local reports and agency statements describe heavy smoke, persistent hot spots and dry vegetation that increases the risk of new ignitions.

Evacuations have extended into parts of Beaver County as crews work to protect homes, outbuildings and livestock. Okcfox and KOKH reported "an outbuilding burned in the fire, but no homes have been damaged." News9 said firefighters are working around the clock to protect homes, property and livestock while staging resources statewide to respond rapidly.

On logistics, Okcfox relayed that local fire departments and fire management crews need supplies to support more than 100 people and that donations "can be dropped off at the fire department on 24th Street." Officials continue to urge residents to avoid outdoor burning, follow road closures and report wildfire damage through the state’s damage reporting portal, per state emergency guidance.

State and local officials warn the incident remains fast-moving. With the State Emergency Operations Center active and Oklahoma Forestry Services teams staged in Guymon and Woodward, more updates on containment, acreage and evacuation status are expected as agencies reconcile measurements and official wind observations.