The latest Northwest Oklahoma Fire Complex Update has been released- showing that the fires in northwest Oklahoma are considered 83 percent contained. The full report, including a look back at the start of the fire on March 6 follows:
High winds, warm temperatures and dry conditions on Monday, March 6 combined to start fires in Beaver, Harper, and Woodward Counties in Northwestern Oklahoma. The firestorm of four large wildfires make up the Northwest Oklahoma Complex, which includes the Starbuck (burned in both Kansas and Oklahoma), 283, Selman, and Beaver fires. These fires burned rapidly through rural areas of Oklahoma and Kansas. There have been two confirmed civilian fatalities to date, one in Oklahoma and one in Kansas. Local, county and state firefighters joined forces to stop the fires. Vast acreage of rangeland was destroyed, killing thousands of livestock, and destroying at least eight Oklahoma homes. Kansas officials confirmed the loss of 34 homes. In Clark County, Kansas, six additional homes were damaged, 108 outbuildings were lost with an additional 13 damaged. The Kansas portion of Starbuck Fire, which also includes Meade and Comanche counties, is 95 percent contained.
Yesterday, minimal smoldering was observed from the fires. The Gate Volunteer Fire Department responded to a new fire northwest of Knowles. Later in the day, firefighters on patrol discovered and suppressed a small grass fire caused by a powerline in Woodward County on the 208 Road west of OK Highway 50.
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