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Wildfires in western Oklahoma expanded to more than 155,000 acres, including at least 145,000 acres along Ranger Road in Beaver County, the Oklahoma Forestry Services announced in an update shared on its Facebook account Tuesday (February 17).
The agency said it estimated a total of 145,000 acres in the Ranger Road fire in Beaver, County stretching from Oklahoma to Kansas; 5,000 acres in the Sevens Fire in Texas County; 3,300 acres in the Side Road Fire in Texas County; and 2,000 acres in the 43 Road Fire in Woodward County, noting that the numbers were expected to change as more data became available. Wind gusts in the wildfires were reported to have exceeded 65 MPH on Tuesday.
At least four firefighters experienced injuries, with three being linked to a fire truck from the Rosston Fire Department overturning, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol via the Weather Channel and another being hospitalized for an undetermined reason, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Evacuations were ordered in various counties as a red flag warning remains in place with warm temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and dry conditions continuing. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statement regarding the families affected by the massive fires and the "brave first responders on the front lines" on his X account Tuesday.
"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," Stitt said.