Wildfire in Choctaw, Oklahoma

Unseasonably warm temperatures, very strong wind, and very low humidity combined with dormant fuels to promote conditions that supported the rapid spread of wildfire across portions of eastern Oklahoma during early March. Large fires that began in late February across portions of Latimer, Cherokee, Adair, Delaware, and Choctaw Counties continued to burn through March 2nd. These fires burned over 7200 acres in Latimer County, more than 5700 acres in Cherokee and Choctaw Counties, more than 1200 acres in Adair County, and more than 500 acres in Delaware County. Numerous other wildfires occurred, and the largest fires burned over 900 acres in Okmulgee County.