High Winds Fuel Panhandle Wildfires, Texas County Faces Evacuations and Damage
Tyrone was ordered evacuated as Texas County fires burned more than 8,300 acres and destroyed at least five structures, with power out and shelters opening in Liberal.
Two large fires in Texas County forced the town of Tyrone to evacuate and left at least five structures destroyed, Texas County and state emergency updates show. Oklahoma Forestry Services estimated the Stevens Fire at 5,000 acres and the Side Road Fire at 3,300 acres, a combined total KSCB described as "more than 8,300 acres burned in Texas County." Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department and local officials told residents to leave at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, and KOCO reported the evacuation remained in place around 8 p.m.
The Side Road Fire was reported to have started after a seven-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 54, the Oklahoma State Department of Emergency Management said, compounding traffic and emergency response needs along the highway. Tri-County Electric Cooperative reported Tyrone and the area northeast were without power because of the fire, and KSCB said crews were working to restore service for Tyrone as firefighters battled flames.
Across the panhandle, Beaver County fires produced widely differing acreage estimates in media and agency reports. KVII reported the Ranger Road Fire at 15,000 acres and said it had entered Kansas, while Oklahoma Forestry Services was quoted by KSCB and OKCFOX estimating about 145,000 acres burned in Beaver County. Beaver County Emergency Management reported numerous outbuildings destroyed, and KVII and ABC7 quoted NWS and OFS movement estimates of fires traveling east-northeast at 3 to 5 miles per hour.
Firefighting operations were hampered by extreme winds and gusts. OKCFOX and ODEM reported aviation resources requested for Beaver County but grounded when wind gusts topped 65 mph. The National Weather Service at Amarillo issued fire warnings at the request of Oklahoma Forestry Services and described a "dangerous fire" five miles east of Tyrone moving east-northeast at 3-5 mph and "a dangerous wildfire" seven miles northwest of Hooker moving northeast at 3-5 mph.
Injuries and road closures added strain on emergency services. ODEM and OKCFOX said four firefighters were injured after a Rosston Fire truck overturned and an additional local firefighter was hurt; "All four were transported to local hospitals." Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Travis Burgess posted photos of a fire crossing U.S. Highway 64 near Forgan and closed eastbound lanes, with OHP social posts urging motorists, "Be careful out there!" Multiple agencies warned drivers not to enter smoky areas.
Cross-border impacts sent smoke and evacuees into Kansas. KOCO and Brock Kappelmann reported smoke pouring into Liberal though the Liberal Fire Department said the city was not under evacuation threat. Shelters opened in Liberal at CrossPoint Church, 204 North Sherman Avenue, and at the Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Ave, Liberal; the activity center phone is (620) 624-3743. Seward County Emergency Management declared a disaster and the Kansas Highway Patrol issued evacuations for the southwest corner of Seward County where some homes were damaged.
State response and next steps were activated as the fires spread. ODEM activated the State Emergency Operations Center on Monday and issued a situation update late Tuesday night; Governor Kevin Stitt released a statement pledging aid to those affected. With acreage figures for Beaver County varying sharply between outlets and OFS estimates, local and state officials remain the primary sources for final damage and acreage tallies as crews continue containment and recovery operations.
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