Austin, Texas – Since the Oklahomans still recover from mortal forest fires that whipped the State and destroyed hundreds of houses in recent days, the authorities warned that on Tuesday it would bring a renewed risk of fire to an area that covers from west of Oklahoma through the Panhandle of Texas and southeast New Mexico.
More than 400 houses were seriously damaged or destroyed in the Forest fire outbreak That started Friday in Oklahoma. At least four people died due to fires or strong winds, including a person killed in a vehicle accident as a result of little visibility due to dust or smoke, authorities said.
While the quiet weather over the weekend helped crews to handle most forest fires that burn in Texas and Oklahoma, the forecasts of the National Meteorological Service said that extremely critical climatic conditions were expected in parts of Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.
With the wind bursts planned to reach up to 50 mph (80 kph) in the afternoon, along with dry conditions and “receptive fuels”, the fires could extend rapidly, the weather service said.
“These fires, once they start, become really difficult to stop,” said Keith Merckx from Oklahoma Forestry Services. “They move more quickly than our resources can continue up to date.”
He said that officials will return their attention to the west and center of Oklahoma, where strong winds were expected to collect again in the next few days. Much of the state will return under fire warnings from 11 am on Tuesday.
Andrine Shufran and her husband spent Monday crossing the ashes of her house in a neighborhood in Stillwater that said “it looks like a chess board” after recent fires.
“There is no predictability or justice about destroyed houses,” Shufran said. “There are only two options for houses in our neighborhood: being stopped or burned to the ground.”
His house was one of the more than 70 destroyed by forest fires in Stillwater, a city of approximately 50,000 approximately 65 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of the city of Oklahoma and the home of the State University of Oklahoma.
Shufran, director of Inventure, a pet zoo that is part of OSU and the Extension Campus of the University, said that current and previous city and previous city officials have intervened to help her and her husband and her husband.
“I have been more overwhelmed by how fantastic the oklahomans are when they are friends or neighbors with you, because we have had many people who approach,” Shufran said.
The mayor of Stillwater Willce warned on Facebook on Monday afternoon for worsening fire conditions in the area.
“Be prepared to take measures quickly, if necessary,” he wrote.
To the southwest Stillwater, residents were urged in two parts of Logan’s rural county to evacuate their homes on Monday afternoon after forest fires that were burning more than 47 square miles (120 square kilometers) in the county since Friday picked up high winds and dry conditions.
An evacuation shelter was established at the County Fairgrounds in Guthrie, said the deputy director of Emergency Management of Logan County, Shawn Pierce.
Pierce said approximately 54 houses were destroyed in the fire last week in the county, which is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of the city of Oklahoma.
About 10 fires continued burning in Texas on Monday when officials prepared for more strong winds on Tuesday, Texas toldANDM spokesperson for the Erin O’Connor forest service.
Although most of the fires have been contained due to Sunday of slower winds, Texas officials expected the danger of forest fires to increase the week, O’Connor said.
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The AP reporter Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
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Lathan is a member of Associated Press’s body/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America It is a non -profit national service program that places journalists in local writing rooms to inform about undercover issues.
