Wildfires Rage In Oklahoma; 150,000 Acres Burned, Evacuations Ordered | Video

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 07:49 IST

US Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for parts of northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area for Wednesday.

A massive wildfire emergency has unfolded across the US Plains. In the northwestern part of Oklahoma, a fast-moving fire on the southwest side of Woodward forced evacuations on Tuesday. Wind gusts near 60 mph pushed flames through the red cedar-filled neighbourhoods.

As per reports, emergency crews are battling out-of-control wildfires across multiple areas. Fire whirls, also known as fire tornadoes, have been spotted moving across the landscape.

Evacuations in Oklahoma Panhandle

Numerous evacuations are underway across parts of the Oklahoma Panhandle, including the city of Woodward. Strong winds reaching 60 to over 70 mph are rapidly spreading the fires. Residents in Woodward have been ordered to evacuate immediately as heavy smoke and fast-moving flames threaten homes. Several structures are already on fire.

Authorities said evacuation orders cover neighbourhoods south of US Highway 412 and west of 13th Street. Nursing homes in that zone have also been evacuated. Officials clarified that the entire city is not being evacuated, only the southwest part.

The fire began about a mile southwest of Woodward and quickly moved towards residential areas under extreme wind conditions. Gusts were reaching 60 mph when it broke out. Meanwhile, crews have brought a separate fire in central Woodward under control, but major concern remains near 34th Street and Hank’s Trail and near 48th Street and Hank’s Trail, where heavy red cedar trees are present. Some residents have refused to leave. Authorities have also urged people to avoid southwest Woodward due to poor visibility from smoke.

Beaver county fire spreads

The Beaver County fire in Oklahoma has burned 150,000 acres and continues to spread. Woodward is being evacuated as the fire approaches the city. Governor Stitt has activated the State Emergency Operations Center and requested FEMA assistance.

Wind gusts over 70 mph are fuelling fires across Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Colorado. The same weather system caused a 30-vehicle pile-up on I-25 in Colorado earlier in the day, killing four people.

Fire weather watch in Illinois

The Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for parts of northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, for Wednesday, February 18.

Officials have warned against outdoor burning due to the risk of catastrophic fires developing quickly under warm, dry and windy conditions.

High temperatures in Chicago are expected to reach the mid-to-upper 60s, well above normal for mid-February. Winds may reach up to 25 mph, with gusts over 40 mph. Relative humidity is forecast to drop to around 15 per cent, creating very dry conditions that allow fires to ignite and spread more easily.

News world Wildfires Rage In Oklahoma; 150,000 Acres Burned, Evacuations Ordered | Video

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