Oklahoma
Powerful winds drive wildfires across Oklahoma: Homes threatened, evacuation orders issued
Wildfires swept through several parts of Oklahoma on Friday, driven by powerful winds that sent plumes of dust and smoke across the region, knocked down power lines and sparked evacuation orders as fast-moving flames threatened residential areas.
Gusts of up to 70 mph were part of a “monster” storm that was raging across the United States, expected to bring blizzard conditions to the northern Plains, wildfires to the southern and central U.S. and tornadoes in the South. The high winds and fire weather conditions were expected to continue into the evening. A near-critical fire threat was expected to continue into Saturday.
Windows rattled, roof shingles and broken branches ripped through the air, and sirens could be heard throughout the day in Oklahoma City and other areas as fire crews raced to numerous hot spots as they sprouted up.
➤ Live updates: Wildfire risk in Oklahoma continues Saturday, see latest alerts issued
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
There were eight fire warnings issued by the National Weather Service and Oklahoma Forestry Services as of 3:40 p.m. Friday, which indicate dangerous wildfires where residents are being advised to prepare for an evacuation if requested:
- Velma — two miles southeast
- Meridian/Arcadia — three miles south of Meridian
- Camargo — west of the town
- Orlando — three miles east
- Lake Thunderbird/Norman — several fires and a large evacuation area
- Leedey — evacuated Friday afternoon
- Pawhuska — five miles west
- Southern Osage County — south of Skedee
As of Friday afternoon, nearly 75,000 Oklahomans were without power, the majority of outages being in central Oklahoma. A power outage in Oklahoma City temporarily shut down the high school state basketball tournaments at the State Fair Arena. Grass fires broke out across the state, with one caused by downed power lines threatening the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Hope in Oklahoma City before being put out by fire crews.
Blowing dust was causing low visibility Friday afternoon, as little as a quarter mile in western Oklahoma. As numerous accidents occurred due to the extreme wind, the National Weather Service in Norman advised to only travel when necessary and give high-profile vehicles a wide berth.
Evacuation orders issued in Norman, Leedey
Residents in the western town of Leedey, Oklahoma, were advised to evacuate just before 1 p.m. to the town of Hammon at the Oklahoma FEMA Gymnasium for safety.
About an hour later, some Norman residents were asked to evacuate to the Little Axe Recreation Center or Cross Point Church. Residents living along and east of 108th Avenue and 132th Avenue, and north of Post Oak Road to State Highway 9, were issued the evacuation notice.
There were as many as four fires burning in east Norman near Lake Thunderbird on Friday afternoon, the local National Weather Service office said.
Fire weather causes dangerous driving conditions
Friday’s conditions were less than ideal for driving, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol having responded to several accidents across the state caused by extreme wind gusts.
The state also suspended any transportation of oversized loads, and downed power lines in Oklahoma City caused a section of Interstate 240 between Western Avenue and May Avenue to close.
Remember if you spot a fire to alert first responders by calling 911.
Saturday’s outlook
Fire weather was expected to continue Saturday, with the high temperatures ranging from 59 to 68 degrees.
The northwesterly winds would be moving at an average of 15 to 20 miles per hour, with maximum wind gusts up to 28 miles per hour.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
Travelers Sue: Promises Were Broken. They Want Hawaiian Airlines Back.
Idaho CBD retailers navigating uncertainty under new hemp rules
Wisconsin man, woman killed in head-on Wadsworth crash involving semi ID’d: officials
Is Darryn Peterson Trying to Avoid Indiana?
The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Where Iran’s ballistic missiles can reach — and how close they are to the US
Has India’s influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban?
Bill Clinton to testify before House committee investigating Epstein links
Read Judge Schiltz’s Order
Vulnerable House Dem lashes out at Trump’s ‘racist’ SOTU challenge: ‘That was uncomfortable’
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making