Oklahoma Ravaged by Wildfires Amid Intense Winds — Videos Reveal Destruction

Wildfires tore through Oklahoma on Friday, March 14, fueled by intense winds. Logan County saw several structures engulfed in flames as firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes.

KOCO 5 Field Meteorologist Michael Armstrong witnessed the devastation firsthand. Reporting from Highway 105 between Henney and Choctaw roads, he described the scene as vehicles and a house burned.

The high winds made firefighting efforts difficult. Videos from the scene showed flames consuming homes and cars while thick smoke filled the air. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to battle the inferno, but the conditions were relentless.

Authorities urged residents to evacuate as the fires moved quickly across dry terrain. The full extent of the damage remains unknown, but officials warned that the threat was far from over.

Osage County saw multiple wildfires, with varying levels of control. The Acorn wildfire was 75% contained, the Maker wildfire reached 70%, and the Nadel wildfire was at 60%. However, containment levels for the Pulare, Tangon, and Bear wildfires remained unknown.

Other counties, including Oklahoma, Garvin, Seminole, Payne, Creek, Murray, and Pontotoc, reported active fires with no official containment percentages. Authorities urged residents to stay prepared for potential evacuations as conditions continued to evolve.

Emergency officials ordered evacuations in parts of Stillwater on Friday night as a fast-moving wildfire spread into neighborhoods.

Rob Hill, director of emergency management, urged residents in the area of Highway 51 and Range Road to evacuate immediately.

Officials reported that at 9:13 p.m. CDT, a dangerous wildfire was located four miles northeast of Leedey and moving east at 1 to 3 mph. The fire threatened Camargo, Leedey, Angora, and surrounding areas.

Authorities urged residents to prepare for possible evacuations and follow all safety instructions. They warned against driving into smoke and emphasized the potential for extreme fire behavior, including wind-driven flames and torching trees.

Firefighters remained on high alert as shifting winds and dry conditions continued to fuel the blazes. Emergency crews monitored the situation closely, ready to respond as the fire advanced.

Curry, 95, had been missing since the night of Tuesday, January 7, when the fire rapidly spread across the area, destroying homes and displacing residents.

The confirmation of her death came on Sunday, January 12, when the coroner informed her family that her remains had been discovered at the site of her destroyed property. Her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, had been anxiously searching for answers since the fire began.

Kelley, who is also Curry’s part-time caregiver, last saw her grandmother on Tuesday night. She had dropped her off at home after a long day at the hospital. Momma D had been exhausted and wanted to rest.

Kelley, who had to look after other ailing family members, left for the evening, never imagining that things would take a turn for the worst. The Eaton Fire erupted earlier that day and quickly turned into a raging inferno, forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

When Kelley awoke to a text alert about a power outage at her grandmother’s house, she rushed to the smoke-filled Altadena neighborhood to check on her.

However, she was stopped by officers at a barricade. “I’m sorry your grandmother’s property is gone. It totally burned down,” an officer told Kelley, advising her to check the Pasadena Civic Center, where displaced residents were being sent.

For days, the family clung to hope that Curry had somehow survived the disaster. But by Friday, January 10, the situation looked grim. Kelley was escorted back to the property by a member of the National Guard to see the damage for herself.

Her presence on set left a lasting impression on those who worked with her, and her family says she often reflected fondly on those years.

But acting wasn’t Curry’s only passion. After working in Hollywood, she became a nurse and remained deeply involved with her community. She was affectionately known as “Kaiser Famous” by those who knew her through her work with the Kaiser community.

Even at 95, Curry remained full of energy and excitement for life. Her family recalled how she took pride in her independence and loved spending time with her loved ones.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by her family, Curry’s vibrant personality, charm, and grace impacted everyone she met. Despite her age, she was fiercely independent and optimistic about the future.

“She often said, ‘I have yet to begin to live,’” her familyn the page. “She was a dreamer, a doer, and above all, an amazing grandmother who inspired us with her strength, resilience and class.”

Before the tragic news was confirmed, Kelley expressed her desperation to find her grandmother alive,she was “still praying for a miracle” but feared the worst. “Honestly, we don’t feel very hopeful that she’s still here with us,”  Kelley.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Kelley recalled what happened after she dropped off her grandma and left. Her family had heard of a potential evacuation warning due to the fire but didn’t feel alarmed at the time.