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Latest: Oklahoma wildfires force evacuation of 1,400 people

Original Publication Date April 13, 2018 - 8:31 AM

WOODWARD, Okla. - The Latest on wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in northwestern Oklahoma (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

A fast-moving wildfire has forced an evacuation order for about 1,400 people in three northwest Oklahoma small towns.

Dewey County Sheriff Clay Sander said his deputies are going door-to-door in Seiling, Taloga and Putnam telling residents to leave. Sander urged people to heed the warning to leave and let firefighters protect property.

Sander said some who had earlier been evacuated from the nearby town of Vici (vi-si) were being allowed to return home.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency Friday in 55 of the state's 77 counties. Blazes have scorched more than 200,000 acres (809 sq. kilometres) in Dewey and neighbouring Woodward counties. The declaration will help speed up emergency purchases and deliveries to help fight fires.

A turkey hunter was hospitalized with burns after being trapped in one fire.

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10:25 a.m.

A turkey hunter is badly burned but alive after becoming trapped overnight by a wildfire in northwestern Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Forestry Services spokeswoman Michelle Finch-Walker says the hunter was found Friday morning and taken to a burn centre in serious condition.

Finch-Walker says the blaze in Dewey County has burned about 82,000 acres (331 sq. kilometres).

Woodward County Emergency Management Director Matt Lehenbaur says a separate fire near Woodward has burned more than 120,000 acres (485 sq. kilometres) and forced the evacuation of about 450 people from their homes, but no injuries are reported.

The National Weather Service says dangerous fire weather conditions are expected in much of western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle through Saturday, with low humidity and strong winds of 20-30 mph (32-48 kph) and gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kph).

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6:46 a.m.

A wildfire in northwestern Oklahoma has burned more than 120,000 acres (485 sq. kilometres) and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.

Woodward County Emergency Management Director Matt Lehenbaur said Friday that the fire has destroyed several homes near Woodward, about 125 miles (200 kilometres) northeast of Oklahoma City.

He says no injuries have been reported.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reports another fire has burned more than 21,000 acres (85 sq. kilometres) near the town of Leedey, about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Woodward.

The National Weather Service says dangerous fire weather conditions are expected in much of western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle through Saturday, with low humidity and strong winds of 20-30 mph (32-48 kph) and gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kph).

News from © The Associated Press, 2018
The Associated Press

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