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Wildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city

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Wildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city


Warm, dry and windy weather in Oklahoma has fueled multiple wildfires and prompted authorities to urge nearly one-third of the residents of the small city of Woodward to flee.

Matt Lehenbauer, director of emergency management for Woodward and its nearly 12,000 inhabitants, said the evacuation recommendation covers roughly 4,000 people. It is voluntary, he said, because Oklahoma prohibits mandatory evacuations.

The wildfire in Woodward, about 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, is approaching a “worst-case scenario,” Lehenbauer said, but it hasn’t moved into the most populated area of the city.

A blaze in Beaver County at the base of the Oklahoma Panhandle, about 217 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, has consumed an estimated 15,000 acres alone, Oklahoma Forestry Services said.The agency posted video of golden farmland set against the backdrop of roiling flames and dark smoke rising and sidestepping like a thunderstorm.

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“The fire in Beaver County is continuing to spread,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement. “Winds are gusting over 65 mph.”

Stitt said he was being briefed at the State Emergency Operations Center, which was tracking the larger fires, including one in Texas County.

The fires consumed fuel along the western and northwestern areas of the state as unusually warm weather, predicted by the National Weather Service to reach as much as 25 degrees above normal during the day, was joined by gusting winds out of the southwest of more than 60 mph.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone has been injured or structures have burned.

The Beaver County fire on Tuesday crossed into Kansas, that state’s forest service said. The focus of firefighting efforts is in the city of Englewood, the Kansas Forest Service said.

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Gov. Laura Kelly had issued an emergency proclamation Sunday warning of dangerous fire weather through Thursday.

Kansas’ emergency operations center was staffed Tuesday with personnel from the State Fire Marshal Office, the Kansas Forest Service, the Kansas Highway Patrol and state Transportation Department, state officials said. Parts of Interstate 70 and U.S. 50 were closed as wind-driven dust creates poor visibility, Kansas officials said in a statement.

The Oklahoma Agriculture Department said temperatures along the western edge of the state could reach as high as 85 degrees Wednesday.

The weather service office in Norman, Oklahoma, said the fire weather could stick around until at least Friday. The state Agriculture Department said in a statement that conditions will start to weaken Thursday as winds shift from the southwest to the northwest, pulling in cooler air.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, new fires also erupted in Texas, New Mexico and Missouri as the warm, dry air settled into the Central Plains following a storm front over the weekend.

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The National Weather Service said Tuesday that more than 21 million people were under fire weather watches, triggered when sustained high winds and dry weather are expected to create extreme fire danger. Another 11 million were under red flag warnings, which warn of imminent critical fire weather, according to the agency.



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Oklahoma

Flooded roads prompt travel warnings across Northeast Oklahoma

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Flooded roads prompt travel warnings across Northeast Oklahoma


NOWATA COUNTY, Okla. –

Nowata County Emergency Management is urging motorists to avoid several roads across the county as flooding continues following recent heavy rainfall.

Officials reported water over a bridge on County Road 408 south of Road 2, between Roads 2 and 3.

Roads to Avoid
Emergency management officials issued the following road advisories:

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  • Road 21 between Roads 420 and 419
  • Road 419 north of U.S. Highway 60
  • Road 420 between Roads 27 and 28
  • Road 27 west of Road 421 near Panther Creek

Officials say these roads should be avoided because of flooding.

Road 2 Closed
Emergency management also announced that Road 2 (EW 2) is closed.

Officials said some areas of the roadway have approximately 12 inches of standing water.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and seek alternate routes until water recedes.





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523 animals rescued in SE Oklahoma City meth bust, animal welfare overwhelmed

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523 animals rescued in SE Oklahoma City meth bust, animal welfare overwhelmed


OKLAHOMA CITY –

Resources at Oklahoma City’s Animal Welfare are stretched thin after taking in more than 500 animals in an emergency rescue. Police arrested four people and saved the animals on Thursday in a methamphetamine bust at a home near southeast 15th and High Avenue.

FIRST REPORTED: Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, hundreds of animals seized from Oklahoma City home

Oklahoma City’s Development Services Director Brock Rowe answered questions about the largest animal seizure in the city’s history.

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How many animals were rescued and what species were found?

Animal control officers rescued 523 animals. There were about 470 ducks, chickens, pigeons, and peacocks gathered from the property. Officers took 49 dogs, an unspecified number of cats, one horse, and reptiles.

What is the latest on the animals’ health and condition?

The animals were “taken care of pretty good” and did not appear to be severely abused of malnourished. The situation is believed to be animal hoarding, meaning there were simply too many animals on the property. Staff worked overnight to ensure the animals have food, clean water, bedding and proper car.

What resources is the shelter using to care for so many animals?

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The shelter is using temporary crates, kennels, and indoor spaces to accommodate the overflow, especially for birds, while larger animals like the horse are kept outside. Animal welfare officials are reaching out to local partners and organizations that specialize in livestock and birds to help house and care for some of the animals. The shelter is running a “name your price” adoption event to quickly move existing animals out and free up space.

Are the animals considered evidence, and when could they become available for adoption or transfer?

The animals are currently on hold as evidence, and adoption or transfer will only happen after the legal process determines when they can be released.

What is the status of the criminal investigation, and are additional charges expected?

Police arrested four men on drug trafficking complaints during the warrant search. No word if the men will face charges for the animals.

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Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP

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Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP


Texas A&M baseball made a massive splash in the transfer portal Friday morning with the pickup of a premier left-hander from a Southeastern Conference foe.

Oklahoma southpaw Trent Collier is returning to his home state to play for the Aggies in 2027, according to reports from TexAgs’ Richard Zane. Collier pitched for the national-championship-winning Sooners this past season, posting a 3.80 ERA through 23.2 innings pitched and striking out 28 hitters. He was called upon for two appearances in Oklahoma’s postseason run to the national title, allowing no hits with two strikeouts against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

Collier will come to Bryan-College Station to pitch for the Fightin’ Texas Aggies as a junior for head coach Michael Earley in 2027.

Rebuilding a depleted pitching staff was one of the top priorities for Earley this offseason, after posting a 5.24 team ERA in 2026. Collier is the sixth pitcher to commit to the Aggies out of the transfer portal and the ninth overall addition.

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The lefty from Prosper, Texas, began his college career at Weatherford Junior College before landing with the Sooners. He made eight appearances, including nine starts, and earned second-team all-conference for recording a 2.65 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 68.0 innings.

After the program parted ways with Jason Kelly, following the regional final loss to USC in College Station, new pitching coach Barry Enright has reeled in some of the top-rated pitchers in the country this offseason, including Collier. The former Sooners star will have the opportunity to develop under Enright, who had stints in the MLB with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.





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