Wildfires threaten homes in Texas, Oklahoma
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An aerial view of homes destroyed by yesterday's wildfire on March 15, 2025 in Mannford, Oklahoma. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Wind-driven wildfires in Oklahoma have killed at least four people and resulted in 142 others being taken to local hospitals with fire-related injuries, the state's Department of Emergency Management said Sunday.
The big picture: The fires that have razed at least 170,000 acres after igniting Friday are tied to the same giant storm system that brought tornadoes to the U.S. South, per Axios' Andrew Freedman.
- More critical fire weather was expected this week in Oklahoma and Texas, which is also facing wildfire threats.
Zoom in: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared an emergency on Friday due to "dangerous wildfires and straight-line-winds" and "continuing including damage to power lines and infrastructure, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief."
- Officials began damage assessments on Saturday and had "identified more than 400 homes damaged statewide" as of Sunday afternoon, per an Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management statement.
- Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on X the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had approved a request for grant assistance to fight wildfires in Gray County, near the border with Oklahoma, and Gillespie County, near Austin.
Threat level: "Critical to extreme fire weather conditions" were expected Monday through Tuesday and near critical to critical fire conditions were expected each afternoon through Friday in many parts of Oklahoma, per a forecast discussion from the National Weather Service's Norman office.
- A Red Flag Warning was due to take effect from 11am-10pm on Monday and a Fire Weather Watch for the same period Tuesday, with dry weather expected.
- A Red Flag Warning was also due to take effect in Texas on Monday, as the NWS' Austin office noted the state was facing elevated to near critical fire weather Sunday afternoon and critical fire weather from I-35
westward on Monday.
Between the lines: Climate change is causing an increase in days with extreme wildfire weather conditions and it's a key driver behind increased wildfire risk, multiple studies show.
In photos: Fires devastate Oklahoma communities
Go deeper: At least 40 killed as tornadoes, severe weather threaten multiple states
