Fire warnings in Oklahoma have prompted evacuations and closed highways in the western parts of the state.Evacuations have been issued for the southwest portion of Woodward, near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west, according to the Woodward County emergency manager. A fire warning has also been issued in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle as a wildfire near Forgan has shut down part of a highway and spread into Kansas. What to KnowThe southwest parts of Woodward near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west are under evacuation orders due to a wildfire. Nursing homes, businesses and residents are being evacuated due to the fire danger. There have been reports of homes burning. A second fire has popped up southeast of Woodward, near Hunter Road and East Hanks Trail. Western Oklahoma is under a red flag warning Tuesday as warm and windy conditions fuel ingredients needed to spark fires across the state. A large wildfire sparked Tuesday afternoon near Forgan in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The fire has spread into Kansas. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has shut down eastbound U.S. Highway 64. Woodward FireEvacuations have been issued for the southwest parts of Woodward near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west. Any residents or businesses in the area were told to evacuate. The Woodward County emergency manager confirmed that homes have burned in the fire. Nursing homes have also been evacuated. Authorities said they did not know if anyone was injured, but they were helping residents urgently evacuate. The area of evacuations expanded further east after initial evacuations were ordered from 22nd Street and Oklahoma Avenue. Oklahoma Avenue is the main street through the city. KOCO 5 First Alert Storm Chaser Amanda Benton was in the city, where heavy black smoke could be seen filling the sky. Open the video player below to watch. A second fire has popped up southeast of Woodward, near Hunter Road and East Hanks Trail. Firefighters told KOCO 5 that no evacuations were planned for the wildfire on the southeast side of town as of 6:50 p.m. KOCO 5 Meteorologist Joseph Neubauer says the fire prompting evacuations was initially moving northeast at 3 to 5 mph. At about 6:10 p.m., the Woodward County emergency manager provided an update on the fire. Open the video player below to watch. “We’ve got quite a mess going on. We’re still coordinating, trying to get more firefighters in,” Matt Lehenbauer, the Woodward County emergency manager, said.He explained that the evacuation area is south of Highway 412, which runs east and west through the center of Woodward, and 13th Street, which runs north and south. He said that the southwest part of Woodward, a heavily wooded area, is being evacuated.”We do still have some problems on that far southwest corner. We’ve had some rekindling the fire that was kind of in the south central and west central part of Woodward. We’ve got a handle on it, but it’s still smoldering, so we’re still working on that,” he said. >> Video Below: Sky 5 shows wildfire approaching structure near WoodwardThe fire is burning through an area previously impacted by a tornado in 2012, which resulted in six deaths and the destruction of 90 homes.”It’s in an area that’s been impacted already. As we talked about years ago, we’ve been on, unfortunately talking about a number of incidents that happened in this area right now,” he said.The emergency manager emphasized the challenges faced by firefighters. “Our biggest problem right now is just the amount of traffic. We’ve already had one fire truck involved in an accident,” he said.The situation remains critical as efforts continue to manage the fire and ensure the safety of residents. Beaver County Fire Oklahoma Forestry Services officials said they estimate a fire in Beaver County is approximately 15,000 acres, and the fire has spread into Kansas. Aviation resources have been requested, but wind speeds and gust that have been observed at over 65 mph prevent aviation operations over the fire. >> Video below shows a look at the fire. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted pictures of a fire in Forgan, where Trooper Travis Burgess has shut down the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64. Authorities said the fire has crossed the highway. Forgan is a town in Beaver County that’s more than 220 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Fire Warnings and EvacuationsEvacuations have been issued for the southwest portion of Woodward, near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west, according to the Woodward County emergency manager. The National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas, said a fire warning was issued for Beaver County after a wildfire was located near the town of Beaver. Officials said the wildfire is moving east-northeast. Areas impacted are east of Highway 270 and Highway 23 and along Highway 64 between Forgan and Knowles and up to the Kansas state line. People in that area are told to be prepared to evacuate. Texas County Emergency Management officials said people in the town of Tyrone to evacuate. Video Below: What leaders say you can do to stay safe amid high fire danger day in Oklahoma State’s Response to WildfiresGov. Kevin Stitt joined KOCO over the phone after being briefed at the Emergency Operations Center about the fires burning across the state.”We’ve evacuated the town of Tyrone and then right now the big fire we’re watching is southwest of Woodward,” Stitt said.Stitt said that state resources, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, are assisting with evacuations, and the Oklahoma Forestry Department and local firefighters are actively engaged in combating the fires. However, helicopters and other aerial assets are unable to fly due to strong winds and smoke.”Right now, we do not have any reports of homes being damaged in Woodward. So, that’s a good thing,” he said. “And we hopefully we get that line kept out of Woodward proper.”>> Video Below: Gov. Kevin Stitt says the state is coordinating resources to help with wildfires across OklahomaThe governor has been in contact with local officials in Woodward to assess their needs and coordinate state support.”I’ve already talked to the mayor and the city manager and Woodward to find out what resources they needed and what they were seeing on the ground there,” Stitt said.He has instructed forestry assets from the eastern part of the state to assist in the firefighting efforts.”Most of them are already there just to put every fire hose we have and every bulldozer, make sure that we get those lines prepared, and then we’ll just we’re trying to fight those wildfires and keep them out of those major population areas,” Stitt said. Stitt acknowledged the fire threat is expected to increase, with the potential for fires to move into central and eastern Oklahoma.”It’s supposed to move a little bit more to the middle part of our state, and then maybe on Thursday to the eastern part of our state as well,” he said. “They’re going to get me an emergency declaration for that part of the state that will allow me to request assets from other states.”Air assets have already been requested from Texas, although conditions remain too windy for them to operate.”We just want to make sure I give them all the tools they have to be able to fight these fires and keep Oklahoma safe,” Stitt said. “So, man, we just hope it’s not like last March where it went crazy. But that’s why I’ve got every asset possibly in the state over there in the western part of our state right now.”Crashes Due to SmokeThe Woodward County emergency manager said at least one firetruck has been involved in a crash due to low visibility caused by smoke. There was no information on if anyone was injured. Advice for MotoristsOklahoma Highway Patrol officials also are using the situation to remind motorists not to drive into smoke as the fire danger continues throughout the week.”Be careful out there,” the Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted on social media. Firefighters in Woodward told KOCO’s Amanda Benton that evacuations have caused traffic issues through town. Map of Oklahoma WildfiresTop Headlines IKEA announces it will open its first Oklahoma store later this year The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84 Several officers respond to multi-vehicle crash at southeast Oklahoma City intersection Jesse Jackson discussed his origins and his race for president in this 1988 interview Alysa Liu brings fresh look to Milan Cortina: The Olympian with rings bleached in her hair

Fire warnings in Oklahoma have prompted evacuations and closed highways in the western parts of the state.

Evacuations have been issued for the southwest portion of Woodward, near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west, according to the Woodward County emergency manager. A fire warning has also been issued in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle as a wildfire near Forgan has shut down part of a highway and spread into Kansas.

What to KnowThe southwest parts of Woodward near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west are under evacuation orders due to a wildfire. Nursing homes, businesses and residents are being evacuated due to the fire danger. There have been reports of homes burning. A second fire has popped up southeast of Woodward, near Hunter Road and East Hanks Trail. Western Oklahoma is under a red flag warning Tuesday as warm and windy conditions fuel ingredients needed to spark fires across the state. A large wildfire sparked Tuesday afternoon near Forgan in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The fire has spread into Kansas. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has shut down eastbound U.S. Highway 64. Woodward Fire

Evacuations have been issued for the southwest parts of Woodward near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west. Any residents or businesses in the area were told to evacuate.

The Woodward County emergency manager confirmed that homes have burned in the fire. Nursing homes have also been evacuated.

Authorities said they did not know if anyone was injured, but they were helping residents urgently evacuate.

The area of evacuations expanded further east after initial evacuations were ordered from 22nd Street and Oklahoma Avenue. Oklahoma Avenue is the main street through the city.

KOCO 5 First Alert Storm Chaser Amanda Benton was in the city, where heavy black smoke could be seen filling the sky. Open the video player below to watch.

A second fire has popped up southeast of Woodward, near Hunter Road and East Hanks Trail. Firefighters told KOCO 5 that no evacuations were planned for the wildfire on the southeast side of town as of 6:50 p.m.

KOCO 5 Meteorologist Joseph Neubauer says the fire prompting evacuations was initially moving northeast at 3 to 5 mph.

At about 6:10 p.m., the Woodward County emergency manager provided an update on the fire. Open the video player below to watch.

“We’ve got quite a mess going on. We’re still coordinating, trying to get more firefighters in,” Matt Lehenbauer, the Woodward County emergency manager, said.

He explained that the evacuation area is south of Highway 412, which runs east and west through the center of Woodward, and 13th Street, which runs north and south. He said that the southwest part of Woodward, a heavily wooded area, is being evacuated.

“We do still have some problems on that far southwest corner. We’ve had some rekindling the fire that was kind of in the south central and west central part of Woodward. We’ve got a handle on it, but it’s still smoldering, so we’re still working on that,” he said.

>> Video Below: Sky 5 shows wildfire approaching structure near Woodward

The fire is burning through an area previously impacted by a tornado in 2012, which resulted in six deaths and the destruction of 90 homes.

“It’s in an area that’s been impacted already. As we talked about years ago, we’ve been on, unfortunately talking about a number of incidents that happened in this area right now,” he said.

The emergency manager emphasized the challenges faced by firefighters.

“Our biggest problem right now is just the amount of traffic. We’ve already had one fire truck involved in an accident,” he said.

The situation remains critical as efforts continue to manage the fire and ensure the safety of residents.

Beaver County Fire

Oklahoma Forestry Services officials said they estimate a fire in Beaver County is approximately 15,000 acres, and the fire has spread into Kansas. Aviation resources have been requested, but wind speeds and gust that have been observed at over 65 mph prevent aviation operations over the fire.

>> Video below shows a look at the fire.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted pictures of a fire in Forgan, where Trooper Travis Burgess has shut down the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64. Authorities said the fire has crossed the highway.

Forgan is a town in Beaver County that’s more than 220 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma – here is your reminder to not drive into smoke, as we’re facing fire dangers in the state this week. Trooper Travis Burgess has US 64 east of Forgan in the panhandle shut down for this fire as it crosses the highway. Be careful out there! pic.twitter.com/MaW5RGkru9

— OK Highway Patrol/DPS (@OHPDPS) February 17, 2026

Oklahoma Fire Warnings and Evacuations

Evacuations have been issued for the southwest portion of Woodward, near 13th Street and Oklahoma Avenue south and west, according to the Woodward County emergency manager.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas, said a fire warning was issued for Beaver County after a wildfire was located near the town of Beaver. Officials said the wildfire is moving east-northeast.

Areas impacted are east of Highway 270 and Highway 23 and along Highway 64 between Forgan and Knowles and up to the Kansas state line. People in that area are told to be prepared to evacuate.

Texas County Emergency Management officials said people in the town of Tyrone to evacuate.

Video Below: What leaders say you can do to stay safe amid high fire danger day in Oklahoma

State’s Response to Wildfires

Gov. Kevin Stitt joined KOCO over the phone after being briefed at the Emergency Operations Center about the fires burning across the state.

“We’ve evacuated the town of Tyrone and then right now the big fire we’re watching is southwest of Woodward,” Stitt said.

Stitt said that state resources, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, are assisting with evacuations, and the Oklahoma Forestry Department and local firefighters are actively engaged in combating the fires.

However, helicopters and other aerial assets are unable to fly due to strong winds and smoke.

“Right now, we do not have any reports of homes being damaged in Woodward. So, that’s a good thing,” he said. “And we hopefully we get that line kept out of Woodward proper.”

>> Video Below: Gov. Kevin Stitt says the state is coordinating resources to help with wildfires across Oklahoma

The governor has been in contact with local officials in Woodward to assess their needs and coordinate state support.

“I’ve already talked to the mayor and the city manager and Woodward to find out what resources they needed and what they were seeing on the ground there,” Stitt said.

He has instructed forestry assets from the eastern part of the state to assist in the firefighting efforts.

“Most of them are already there just to put every fire hose we have and every bulldozer, make sure that we get those lines prepared, and then we’ll just we’re trying to fight those wildfires and keep them out of those major population areas,” Stitt said.

Stitt acknowledged the fire threat is expected to increase, with the potential for fires to move into central and eastern Oklahoma.

“It’s supposed to move a little bit more to the middle part of our state, and then maybe on Thursday to the eastern part of our state as well,” he said. “They’re going to get me an emergency declaration for that part of the state that will allow me to request assets from other states.”

Air assets have already been requested from Texas, although conditions remain too windy for them to operate.

“We just want to make sure I give them all the tools they have to be able to fight these fires and keep Oklahoma safe,” Stitt said. “So, man, we just hope it’s not like last March where it went crazy. But that’s why I’ve got every asset possibly in the state over there in the western part of our state right now.”

Crashes Due to Smoke

The Woodward County emergency manager said at least one firetruck has been involved in a crash due to low visibility caused by smoke. There was no information on if anyone was injured.

Advice for Motorists

Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials also are using the situation to remind motorists not to drive into smoke as the fire danger continues throughout the week.

“Be careful out there,” the Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted on social media.

Firefighters in Woodward told KOCO’s Amanda Benton that evacuations have caused traffic issues through town.

Map of Oklahoma Wildfires

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