Rain may assist firefighters in battle against wildfires
The worst might soon be over for parts of the state devastated by wildfires for more than a week.
A storm system expected to move in overnight into Saturday morning could bring beneficial rain to western Oklahoma, where wildfires are thought to have burned more than 350,000 acres of grasslands and woodlands.
Up to an inch of rain could fall through Saturday evening on parched areas that haven’t seen substantial precipitation in six months.
In Dewey County, the Rhea fire is estimated to have burned more than 289,000 acres. Oklahoma Forestry Services officials said the fire was 25 percent contained Friday.
The 34 Complex Fire, in Woodward County, is 62 percent contained, having burned more than 62,000 acres.
Favorable weather over the last several days has allowed firefighters to work directly on the
fire line, extinguishing hot spots, flare-ups and pockets of smoldering vegetation, officials said Friday.
Although it’s expected to help firefighting efforts, the rain will not put the fire out, said Steve Smith, fire use specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
“Three-quarters of an inch of rain? Give it 24 hours and it never happened,” Smith said at a briefing on the fires Friday.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management officials are asking residents impacted by both fires to report damages to their property by calling 211 or by going to http://arcg.is/uK0Te. The reporting helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts.
As of Friday afternoon, more than 40 people had responded to the survey to report damage to their homes, outbuildings, vehicles and other property.
Two deaths and the loss of dozens of homes are blamed on the fires. Residents in the hardesthit areas have reported the death of livestock, but official numbers have not been released.
In Dewey County, Sheriff Clay Sander said Friday that investigators have looked into reports that a wildfire may have been intentionally set on April 12, near Vici.
The fire merged with the Rhea Fire, Sander said.
“Right now, we have no evidence that indicates any of the fires were set,” Sander said.
Emergency management officials reported all evacuation shelters were closed Friday.
American Red Cross and Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief continue to provide meals to those impacted by the fires and firefighters trying to contain them. More than 6,800 meals and 4,200 snacks have been provided since April 12.