Search Newsroom

What began as four separate
fires merged into one large wildfire, named the 350 Complex, on Wednesday
afternoon in Woodward County.?? Oklahoma
Forestry Services' Incident Management Team is working in unified command with
the Woodward Fire Department to battle the 55,308 acre blaze, utilizing
firefighting task forces, heavy equipment and very large air tankers to
suppress the fire.?? High winds have
created the perfect recipe for fire danger, resulting in 115 personnel working
this fire, with more resources being ordered to assist.

??

The 350 Complex Fires were
started by power lines that were whipped around and arced by winds that were
sustained at 30 mph and gusted to over 50 mph. The fire is 0% contained as of
Thursday morning.?? An unknown number of
structures were lost, but no injuries or deaths have been reported at this
time.

??

Warm temperatures, relative
low humidity and high winds contributed to the start of additional fires yesterday
afternoon.?? Oklahoma Forestry Services is
in unified command with the Guthrie Fire Department in responding to the Meridian
Fire north of Luther in Logan County, which as burned an estimated 500 acres
and is 80% contained as of Thursday morning.??

??

???With the fires we are
experiencing and Red Flag Warnings in effect for most of the state, we have to
remind the public again that doing anything to cause a spark is extremely
dangerous today and over the next few days,??? said Geissler.?? ???Any fires that start in these conditions
will have the potential to spread very quickly and present erratic fire
behavior.???

??

In addition to avoiding
outdoor burning or any activity that could cause a spark, the public is urged
to remain vigilant and report any fire or smoke to their local fire
departments.?? Citizens are also being
asked, for their own safety as well as the firefighters, to avoid traveling
near any wildfires.?? It is imperative to
keep the roadways clear for firefighters and other emergency responders.

??

Oklahoma Forestry Services is
working in cooperation with local fire departments, County Wildland Task Forces
and County and State Emergency Management to suppress the fires and protect
lives and property across the state.?? Oklahoma
Forestry Services is the state's lead agency related to wildland fire
prevention, protection and use. For additional information about wildfires,
visit www.forestry.ok.gov/wildfire-information.

??