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AMARILLO, Texas – Dry conditions and gusty winds proceed to substance monolithic wildfires across the Plains aft a almighty windstorm sparked an outbreak connected Tuesday.
The fast-moving fires person forced evacuations successful the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, and Kansas.
In Beaver County, Oklahoma, the Ranger Road Megafire has already scorched much than 283,000 acres, and with ongoing unsafe occurrence upwind conditions, it could proceed to turn rapidly beyond the acres it has already consumed.
LIVE UPDATES: SEARCH FOR MISSING SIERRA SKIERS, FIRES RAGE IN THE PLAINS AS BLIZZARD BLASTS MIDWEST
This occurrence has caused astatine slightest 4 firefighters to beryllium hospitalized, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
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A large wildfire successful Beaver County, OK broke retired spreading to 15,000 acres. (Oklahoma Forestry Services )
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Smoke file from the Lavender Fire successful Oldham County connected Feb. 17, 2026. (J. Rodriguez, Texas A&M Forest Service.)
Fire Weather Warnings are successful effect for astir 12 cardinal radical crossed overmuch of New Mexico, acold Southwest Texas and from southeast Colorado/southwest Kansas, crossed the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, overmuch of Oklahoma into northwest Arkansas, and ample portions of Missouri, arsenic the conditions are expected to persist supporting the unsafe occurrence menace crossed ample portions of the Southern Plains done Friday.
(FOX Weather)
Dangerous occurrence upwind conditions persisted Wednesday arsenic a strengthening low-pressure strategy implicit Colorado generated strong, gusty winds crossed the Plains, prompting Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to state a State of Emergency crossed Beaver, Texas, and Woodward counties, which are being threatened by the Ranger Road fire.
I’ve declared a State of Emergency successful Beaver, Texas, and Woodward counties arsenic wildfires proceed to interaction parts of Oklahoma.
Please articulation maine successful continuing to enactment and commune for these affected communities, families, farmers, arsenic good arsenic our archetypal responders who are working…
In part, Governor Stitt stated, "The Woodward fires are astir 20% contained, and we were precise fortunate to support astir neighborhoods safe. A fewer homes were lost, and we’re keeping 4 injured firefighters successful our prayers arsenic they retrieve aft moving tirelessly done the night."
Texas and Kansas activated wildfire effect resources up of the outbreak.
The Texas County Sheriff’s Department took to Facebook connected Wednesday stating that they responded to a tiny grassfire conscionable eastbound of Hooker, with Westbound 54 postulation affected and has since been enactment out.
On Tuesday, almighty upwind gusts caused a multi-car pileup connected Interstate 25 successful Pueblo, Colorado, that killed 5 people.
Massive car pileup closes large road successful Colorado.
(Colorado State Patrol / FOX Weather)
Three different wildfires started Tuesday successful the Oklahoma Panhandle — the Stevens Fire has grown to astir 12,400 acres, the Side Road Fire to astir 3,700 acres, and the 43 Fire to astir 1,680 acres.
In the Texas Panhandle, the Lavender Fire has burned astir 12,000 acres and is astir 20 % contained, portion the 8 Ball Fire has burned astir 9,000 acres and is astir 40 % contained.
FIVE DEAD IN 30+ CAR PILEUP ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN COLORADO AMID VICIOUS WINDS
Most of Tuesday's evacuations person been lifted astir Woodward, Oklahoma — a metropolis with a colonisation of astir 12,000, which is being threatened by the 43 Fire.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol unopen down U.S. 64 East of Forgan, arsenic the Ranger Road occurrence rapidly spread.
Several Kansas towns on the Oklahoma border, including Englewood and Ashland, were threatened by the Ranger Road occurrence arsenic it dispersed implicit the authorities line.
State officials said that each evacuation notices were lifted Wednesday successful Kansas aft the wildfires threatening the portion person been semi-contained.
LIVE UPDATES: DEADLY STORM SPARKS RAGING WILDFIRES AND 70 MPH WINDS, BLIZZARD THREATENS THE MIDWEST
Kansas authorities officials closed Interstate 70 connected Tuesday owed to almighty blowing particulate that reduced visibility, portion the Kansas Department of Transportation closed U.S. Highway 50 adjacent Garden City due to the fact that of high winds that caused galore crashes.
Lavender Fire threatens portion of Potter County, Texas.
(Potter County Fire-Rescue/Facebook / FOX Weather)
Mandatory evacuations were issued Tuesday successful Valle de Oro, Texas, owed to the Lavender fire. Firefighters successful the Amarillo area are battling that blaze alongside the 8 Ball fire, which unneurotic are burning crossed Potter, Oldham and Armstrong counties.
(FOX Weather)
Millions stay nether Fire Weather Warnings, including areas affected by the Ranger Road Megafire on the Oklahoma–Kansas border, arsenic good arsenic the Lavender and 8 Ball Fires successful Texas. With upwind gusts up to 50 mph and comparative humidity beneath 15%, these uncontained fires — and immoderate caller ignitions — could dispersed rapidly.
Check backmost for updates connected this processing story.
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