A helicopter moves in through smoke to drop water on a wildfire north of Woodward, Okla., on Friday, April 13, 2018. A wildfire in northwestern Oklahoma has burned more than 120,000 acres and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. (Rachael Van Horn /The Woodward News via AP)
April 14, 2018 - 4:57 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY - Strong winds are fueling more than two dozen wildfires burning across Oklahoma and Texas.
Authorities say one blaze in western Oklahoma is estimated to be nearly 40 miles (64 kilometres) across at its widest point.
Oklahoma Forestry Services spokeswoman Michelle Finch-Walker says 14 wildfires in the state have charred more than 572 square miles (1,500 square kilometres).
The largest is in Dewey County, where more than 375 square miles (970 square kilometres) have been charred. Hundreds of people have been evacuated .
There also are at least a dozen wildfires in Texas, including a 12 square mile (31 square kilometre) fire in Wheeler County in the Panhandle.
Texas A&M Forest Service fire weather analyst Scott Breit says wind gusts of up to 55 mph (86 kph) are fueling the fires Saturday.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018