Wildfire — Roger Mills, Oklahoma

2018-04-12 · Roger Mills, Oklahoma

Wider weather episode

Several major wildfires were sparked on the 12th. Most significantly (in terms of size/extent) were the Rhea fire (mainly Dewey county, but also affecting Woodward and Custer counties), burning 286,196 acres, causing 1 fatality and 3 injuries (including a burnover of a truck), and destroying 50 structures before it was contained on the 25th; and the 34 Complex (mainly Woodward county), burning 62,481 acres, causing 4 injuries, and destroying 33 structures before it was contained on the 24th; and the Shaw fire (Roger Mills county) burning 7,257 acres and causing 1 fatality and 1 injury.

The Rhea fire fatality was near seiling where a 62 year old woman died inside her vehicle on the 14th. The Shaw fire fatality was a a 61 year old man who died on the 12th as a result of burn injuries.

Other notable fires include the East Reydon fire (1,232 acres in Roger Mills County), and the Roadside fire (916 acres in Woodward county). On the 13th, the Dollar Pond fire burned 257 acres and destroyed 1 structure in Caddo county. On the 14th, the Martha fire burned 33 acres, caused 2 injuries, and destroyed 24 structures in Jackson county.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 749535. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.