Wildfire in Sequoyah, Oklahoma

Unseasonably warm temperatures, high wind, and low relative humidity combined with dormant fuels to promote conditions that supported the rapid spread of wildfire across portions of eastern Oklahoma in mid to late March. Some of the worst wildfires occurred on the 14th, with near record warm temperatures, very dry air behind a dry line, and very strong wind gusting to near 70 mph locally. Numerous wildfires occurred during this period, some of the largest of which burned almost 32000 acres, 115 homes, and 145 outbuildings in Pawnee County, more than 6500 acres in Latimer County, about 3000 acres in Adair, Haskell and Pittsburg Counties, more than 2000 acres in Pushmataha County, about 1700 acres in Sequoyah County, about 1200 acres in Delaware and Cherokee Counties, nearly 1000 acres in Le Flore County, and over 400 acres in Creek County. Two direct fatalities were attributed to fires in Pawnee and Haskell Counties, where homes were burned.