A pyrocumulus cloud develops over the smoke rising from a wildfire in the western region via Adobe Stock
Wildfires that have spread across western Oklahoma amid high winds have prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders.
One of the many wildfires to break out began southwest of Woodward, Oklahoma, and, due to high winds reaching nearly 60 mph, the blaze quickly spread into residential neighborhoods.
The high winds have prevented firefighting aircraft from assisting in putting out the blaze, making it difficult for firefighters to slow the fire’s spread.
Woodward’s emergency management director, Matt Lehenbauer, in a statement, shared, “evacuation orders cover neighborhoods south of U.S. Highway 412 and west of 13th Street. Nursing homes in that zone were also evacuated.”
WATCH:
FIREWHIRL OUTBREAK in Woodward, Oklahoma, where this fire is spreading RAPIDLY into town.
Heartbreaking and devastating situation evolving. Alert friends and family immediately.@MaxArcherWX @RadarOmega pic.twitter.com/k09pIkimHP
— Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) February 17, 2026
INCREDIBLE footage of the 43 fire rapidly expanding northeast towards 22nd street in Woodward, Oklahoma!
If you live in Woodward you need to be evacuating NOW!@NWSNorman @SevereStudios pic.twitter.com/C1ugEQwKh5
— Max Archer (@MaxArcherWX) February 17, 2026
Another wildfire broke out in Beaver County, Oklahoma, burning over 15,000 acres and has since begun to enter Kansas.
LOOK:
HUGE FLAMES are targeting livestock north of Hooker, Oklahoma currently. This is horrible… @ryanhallyall @WxWiseApp pic.twitter.com/IOG9I0kDG5
— Jaden Pappenheim (@PappenheimWx) February 17, 2026
Per Fox Weather:
A new wildfire has broken out in the vicinity of Woodward, Oklahoma, and is spreading rapidly, prompting officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders for parts of the city.
Additionally, multiple Kansas towns, including Englewood, Herndon and Ashland, were also evacuated as another fire approached the Kansas state line.
According to Oklahoma Forestry Services, the Ranger Road Fire is approximately 15,000 acres and is spreading rapidly. Local fire departments, county resources and multiple state agencies are assisting as the wildfire crosses over into Kansas.
“Aviation resources were requested. However, wind speeds and gust spread prohibit aviation operations over the fire at the time,” Oklahoma Foresty Services said.
One farmer in Tyrone, Oklahoma, appeared to be attempting to rescue his cattle, which were in the path of one of the many wildfires raging through the state.
LOOK:
Farmers are doing everything they can to save their livestock from the Stevens Fire south of Tyrone, OK. Heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/ED3jZHJ3S5
— Jaden Pappenheim (@PappenheimWx) February 17, 2026
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