LUTHER, Okla. – An Oklahoma forestry official says the western part of the state "dodged a bullet" when no wildfires developed despite conditions described as "critical fire weather" by the National Weather Service.
Oklahoma Forestry Services fire management chief Mark Goeller (GOH'-ler) says Monday's conditions were definitely ripe for wildfire in western Oklahoma and the Panhandle. Humidity was low as 5 percent in the western Panhandle, with wind gusts of more than 30 miles per hour and temperatures in the upper 70s.
Goeller said forestry firefighters and equipment remain stationed in western Oklahoma in case they're needed.
A fire near Bartlesville in northeast Oklahoma burned 11½ square miles. KOTV in Tulsa showed video of wild horses escaping the flames. Another fire burned less than one square mile near Luther in central Oklahoma.
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