Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky as wildfires raged across Oklahoma, turning peaceful neighborhoods into scenes of chaos and destruction. Firefighters and emergency crews raced against time, doing everything they could to control the flames, but the raging inferno showed no signs of slowing down.
The fires began on Friday, March 14, fueled by powerful winds that spread the flames at an alarming speed. In Logan County, entire structures were swallowed by fire as emergency responders struggled to keep up. KOCO 5 Field Meteorologist Michael Armstrong was reporting live from Highway 105 between Henney and Choctaw roads when he witnessed the devastation firsthand.
“It’s burning to the ground right in front of my eyes,” Armstrong reported, his voice tense with urgency. “There are several vehicles on fire. The wind is so strong it’s pushing Storm Command—it feels like an apocalypse out here!” He watched helplessly as the flames devoured everything in their path. “Everything around me is just incinerated right now,” he added, the horror clear in his voice.
Videos from the scene captured the terrifying sight of homes and cars being consumed by flames, while thick smoke choked the air. Firefighters fought tirelessly to battle the inferno, but the wind made their job nearly impossible.
Authorities quickly issued evacuation orders, warning residents to leave their homes immediately. The fire spread so fast that many barely had time to grab their belongings before fleeing for their lives. The full extent of the damage remained unknown, but officials stressed that the danger was far from over.
In Okmulgee County, the Baldhill wildfire was finally under control, but others still burned. The Gun Club wildfire reached 90% containment, while the Stripes wildfire was only halfway controlled at 50%. The Bever wildfire, however, remained unpredictable, with no confirmed containment status.
Osage County faced multiple fires burning at different levels of containment. The Acorn wildfire was 75% contained, the Maker wildfire was at 70%, and the Nadel wildfire reached 60%. But for the Pulare, Tangon, and Bear wildfires, containment remained unknown, leaving residents on edge.
Other counties, including Oklahoma, Garvin, Seminole, Payne, Creek, Murray, and Pontotoc, reported active fires but had no official containment percentages. Officials continued to urge residents to stay prepared for potential evacuations, warning that conditions could change at any moment.
The situation took an even more terrifying turn when a fast-moving wildfire spread into the neighborhoods of Stillwater late Friday night, forcing emergency officials to order immediate evacuations. Rob Hill, director of emergency management, made a desperate plea to residents near Highway 51 and Range Road.
The high winds today have pulled together one all-timer of a dust storm across our area. It's not done, either – northwest Oklahoma is seeing its lowest visibility yet as dust gets wrapped around the storm from the north. pic.twitter.com/BhdugazRaj
— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) March 14, 2025
“We’re asking people to evacuate—right now. The fire has crossed the road and is in the neighborhoods. Several structures are already burning!” he warned. Hotels and businesses were also affected. The Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, and La Quinta were all evacuated, and even a Walmart was cleared as a precaution.
As if the fires weren’t bad enough, the National Weather Service in Norman reported a massive dust storm sweeping through Oklahoma, reducing visibility to near zero. In northwest Oklahoma, dust from the north was being pulled into the storm, making conditions even more dangerous.
Late Friday night, the wildfires continued to spread, with Dewey and Custer counties becoming the latest areas hit. The NWS issued a fire warning for northeastern Roger Mills County, western Dewey County, and northwestern Custer County at the request of Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Officials reported that at 9:13 p.m. CDT, a dangerous wildfire was just four miles northeast of Leedey, moving east at a slow but steady pace. The fire threatened Camargo, Leedey, Angora, and surrounding areas.
Authorities urged residents to be ready for possible evacuations at a moment’s notice. They warned against driving into areas filled with smoke and emphasized the potential for extreme fire behavior, including wind-driven flames and torching trees. Firefighters remained on high alert, knowing that shifting winds and dry conditions could cause the fires to spread even further.
Meanwhile, the devastating impact of wildfires wasn’t limited to Oklahoma. Earlier this year, Southern California suffered a tragedy when the Eaton Fire claimed the life of a beloved figure from Old Black Hollywood—Dalyce “Momma D” Curry.
Curry, 95, had been missing since January 7 when the fire swept through her Altadena neighborhood. She had spent over two decades in the community, and her loss left family, friends, and neighbors heartbroken.
Her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, who was also her part-time caregiver, last saw her on that fateful Tuesday night. “She was exhausted and just wanted to rest,” Kelley recalled. She had no idea it would be the last time she would see her grandmother alive.
When Kelley received a text alert about a power outage at Curry’s home, she rushed to Altadena, but by the time she arrived, the neighborhood was engulfed in flames. Desperate to get to her grandmother, she was stopped by police at a barricade.
“I’m sorry,” an officer told her gently. “Your grandmother’s property is gone. It completely burned down.”
Kelley’s heart sank. She was directed to check the Pasadena Civic Center, where displaced residents were gathering, but deep down, she feared the worst. For days, the family held onto hope, praying that Curry had somehow survived. But on January 12, the coroner confirmed what they dreaded most—her remains had been found in the ruins of her home.
Kelley was devastated. “I have lived with a lot of guilt,” she admitted in an emotional interview. “I keep thinking—what if I had stayed? What if I had done something different?” Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. “My grandmother meant the world to us. She adored me, and I adored her. I’m just lost for words.”
Dalyce Curry was more than just a grandmother—she was a remarkable woman. In her younger years, she had appeared in Hollywood films like The Ten Commandments, Blues Brothers, and Lady Sings the Blues. Later, she became a nurse and dedicated herself to her community, earning the affectionate nickname “Kaiser Famous.”
Her family started a GoFundMe campaign to give her the farewell she deserved. “Momma D did not have her ‘things in order’ because she truly believed she had at least another five years to live!” her family wrote. “She was funny, spunky, and full of life. She wasn’t ready to go.”
Her loss was just one of many tragedies caused by the ongoing wildfire crisis. California had already experienced 135 wildfires that year, with over 40,000 acres burned and more than 12,300 structures destroyed. Officials confirmed 24 fatalities, with more expected as search efforts continued.
From Oklahoma to California, the battle against wildfires raged on. Firefighters, emergency responders, and communities fought tirelessly, hoping for relief. But as long as the winds blew and the land remained dry, the danger was far from over.
Residents could only hold onto hope, waiting for the day when the flames would finally die down, and they could begin to rebuild their lives from the ashes.
