Oklahoma Activates State EOC as Panhandle Wildfires Trigger Evacuations, Shelters

The Ranger Road Fire scorched roughly 145,000 acres and pushed into Kansas, prompting Oklahoma to activate the State Emergency Operations Center on Feb. 16 and launch a statewide response, ODEM said in updates issued Feb. 17–18. The activation followed days of high winds and elevated fire danger as multiple large fires burned across the Panhandle and western Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Forestry Services reported as of 8 p.m. Tuesday that the Stevens Fire in Texas County had burned about 5,000 acres and the Side Road Fire - started by a seven-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 54 - had burned about 3,300 acres; KXLY-style tallies put combined acreage in Texas County at more than 8,300 acres. The 43 Road Fire in Woodward County burned an estimated 2,000 acres. State reporting indicates more than 155,000 acres have burned across Oklahoma as officials continue to reconcile totals.

Evacuations were ordered for multiple communities. Beaver County Emergency Management issued evacuations for the Gate community as the Ranger Road Fire advanced and reported numerous outbuildings destroyed. Texas County Emergency Management ordered an evacuation for the town of Tyrone at about 3 p.m. Tuesday; that evacuation remained in place at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. Woodward Emergency Management issued, then later lifted, evacuation orders for parts of the Woodward area. Shelters opened for displaced residents at the Cheyenne & Arapaho ERC in Woodward, Mooreland Community Centers at 105 SE Firth St. in Mooreland, Mooreland United Methodist Church at 302 S. Elm in Mooreland, and CrossPoint Church at 204 North Sherman Avenue in Liberal, Kansas for Texas County evacuees.

Damage assessments are underway. Texas County reported five structures destroyed. Woodward County reported three structures destroyed, including two at a USDA facility. Beaver County officials reported numerous outbuildings lost but no precise count yet. ODEM is asking residents with damage to homes, businesses or agricultural property to submit reports at damage.ok.gov to help coordinate response and recovery.

First responders sustained injuries in the course of firefighting operations. Oklahoma Forestry Services and local officials said a Rosston Fire truck overturned in Beaver County; three Rosston firefighters were injured and OFS reported an additional local firefighter injured, for a total of four firefighters transported to local hospitals.

FEMA approved the state’s request for three Fire Management Assistance Grants covering the Stevens Fire in Texas County, the Ranger Road Fire in Beaver County, and the 43 Road Fire in Woodward County, enabling expanded federal support for suppression and mitigation. ODEM said it is coordinating with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma National Guard, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, OK VOAD and other partner agencies.

Governor Kevin Stitt posted from the State Emergency Operations Center: “I am at the State Emergency Operations Center being briefed on the ongoing wildfire response and remain in close coordination with the Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Emergency Management, and local first responders as they work quickly to contain the wildfires impacting Beaver and Texas Counties. The fire in Beaver County is continuing to spread. Winds are gusting over 65 mph. With high fire danger expected to continue over the next several days, I urge all Oklahomans to remain alert, follow evacuation orders, and avoid any activity that could spark new fires. #okfire”

Nonprofits and local volunteers are providing food and supplies; the American Red Cross and Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief are feeding evacuees and first responders, Beaver County Conservation District is coordinating hay donations at Hamilton Farm west of Knowles on Highway 64, and the Laverne Fire Department is collecting non-perishables, feed, hay, fencing and monetary donations. Motorists are urged by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol not to drive into smoke and to “Be careful out there.” Numbers remain evolving as ODEM and Oklahoma Forestry Services finalize incident reports.