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Oklahoma
Forestry Services air and ground resources, local fire departments and Bureau
of Indian Affairs firefighters are working to suppress a large uncontained
wildfire in central Oklahoma. The Pharoah fire and neighboring Nuyaka fire are
expected to burn together sometime today.

Both
fires began on Thursday and current estimates of the Pharoah-Nuyaka fire are
18,000 acres. OFS is in unified command with BIA and fire departments from Okmulgee,
Sunrise and Nuyaka. Multiple residences, outbuildings and a large hog farm are
threatened. Current estimates are that this fire is 10% contained.

???We'll
be heavily engaged on this fire today with dozers, engines and aircraft,??? said
George Geissler, Oklahoma State Forester. ???This fire is large and burning in
terrain that ranges from flat and open to rugged and rocky.???

Fire
danger in the state varies from very high in the panhandle and western edge of
Oklahoma, to high across the rest of the state. The state is experiencing high temperatures
with stronger winds than yesterday and most of the state will have a little
higher humidity than in past days.

???The
three factors that affect fire danger and behavior are winds, temperature and
humidity,??? said Geissler. ???Thursday all three were extreme and today we are
getting a little help from humidity, but the strong winds and high temperatures
aren't really in our favor. We are again asking citizens to be very aware,
avoiding any outdoor activities that could spark a blaze and continuing to call
their nearest fire department if they see or smell fire.???

OFS
continues to revise total acres lost since Thursday as better mapping of fire
perimeters become available. The current estimate is 58,000 acres across the
state.

Reports
indicate numerous structures have been lost during these wildfires. Oklahoma
Emergency Management damage assessments are ongoing.

Oklahoma
Forestry Services is the state's lead agency related to wildland fire
prevention and protection. For additional information about wildfires, visit
www.forestry.ok.gov/wildfire-information.