Dozens of grass fires consume homes north of OKC; residents evacuated near Edmond, Guthrie

For public safety, this story is being provided to readers for free. To support local journalism like this, please consider subscribing.

Residents in north Oklahoma City and southern Logan County evacuated their homes and businesses as firefighters battled multiple wildfires Friday afternoon.

One of the grass fires quickly scorched about 10 acres in the 1000 block of E Hefner Road by 1:50 p.m., according to the Oklahoma City Fire Department. The fire had jumped Kelley Avenue and spread to nearby houses, and fire crews were attempting to douse the fastest-spreading part of the fire. The Oklahoma City Police Department's aerial support was assisting ground crews by dumping water from above.

Authorities closed multiple roads, including the Turner Turnpike near its junction with Interstate 35, because dense smoke had made it too dangerous to traverse the area.

More: A 'fire weather watch' is in effect across Oklahoma Friday. Here's what to do.

Red Cross responding to fire-affected counties throughout Oklahoma

The American Red Cross of Oklahoma activated its state emergency operations center to help emergency management respond to the wildfires in various counties.

The Red Cross said it will be providing evacuation centers for residents and water resources for emergency responders in Oklahoma, Lincoln, Logan, Dewey, Kingfisher, Washington and Osage counties.

Residents affected by Friday's wildfires are encouraged to call 1-800-733-2767 for 24-hour assistance.

-Jessie Christopher Smith

How to help: Oklahoma City and Logan County residents impacted by fires

Norman fire contained Friday evening, no houses lost

Friday evening, the Norman Fire Department reported it had contained a fire near 156th Ave SE and E Lindsey St in east Norman. Firefighters will continue to monitor hot spots in the area.

Officials said the blaze had burned between 100 and 130 acres, but no homes or structures were lost in the fire.

-Jessie Christopher Smith

Fire crews extinguish head of northeast OKC fire, launch damage assessment

By early Friday evening, local firefighters said they had extinguished the fire in its densest areas at 5600 NE 122nd, although crews were still working hotspots along the edge of the turnpike.

A nearby storage facility saw one storage unit catch fire, officials said. Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the fire. Crews said they would remain on the scene to continue extinguishing all fires in the area.

"We've still got a lot of fire here, so we'll probably working it well into the night," said Capt. Scott Douglas of the Oklahoma City Fire Department. "We're working with Oklahoma City police on a damage assessment right now."

Douglas said he would not have preliminary information until late Friday night, but early television reports showed at least half a dozen homes and several commercial structures burning as the fire spread throughout the afternoon.

"These high winds can easily help fuel fires. Our friends at Oklahoma City Fire Department are putting in work today," tweeted the Oklahoma City Police Department. "Please be mindful and don't toss out cigarette butts, burning debris, or anything that can ignite a blaze."

School buses were unable to safely drive into affected Edmond neighborhoods to drop off some schoolchildren from Redbud Elementary and Cross Timbers Elementary. Students were kept at the schools until parents could pick them up. Similar safety precautions also were implemented for Guthrie Public Schools.

-Jessie Christopher Smith

Guthrie schools keeping students on campus after traffic safety concerns

Administrators at Guthrie Public Schools announced late afternoon Friday that they would continue to hold students at the campus because of traffic concerns. Parents were still encouraged to pick their children up at the school.

"Communications are down across most of the district but we will continue to provide updates as soon as possible," school officials said.

-Jessie Christopher Smith

Edmond Schools advises parents of alternate pick-up due to fire threats

Edmond Public Schools students who live in neighborhoods threatened by fires are also being transported to local schools due to safety concerns.

-JaNae Williams

Fires also spreading in Edmond

And at about 3:40 p.m., a fire was approaching homes near Simpson and Sooner Roads north of Edmond, putting those in the neighborhood in danger.

See an Oklahoma fire map showing smoke, fires

Authorities are advising residents to use caution on the roads and to not drive into smoke. Wind speeds of more than 50 mph were expected to worsen the wildfire outbreak, making the blazes more difficult to contain.

-Jack Money

Wildfires in Oklahoma: See what fires burning in Oklahoma look like

Roadways closed, communities evacuated as structures burn

At 3 p.m., Oklahoma City's Fire Department asked for people inside of an area bordered by NE 122, Hefner Road, Eastern and I-35 to vacate that area as they continued to battle the flames.

Another fire was reported to be burning near Western Ave and Coltrane Road, while another large fire located approximately five miles southeast of Guthrie prompted the Oakcliff Fire Department to ask people in that part of southern Logan County to evacuate from their homes and businesses as well.

-Jack Money

By 3:30 p.m., more than 1,500 customers in the service area for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. were without power. About 1,000 customers for Public Service Company of Oklahoma, another public utility, were experiencing power outages as well.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service had issued "red flag warnings" for fire weather earlier Friday. Conditions of hotter temperatures, heavy winds, and dry air already posed extreme risk for wildfires to spread during the late morning and afternoon.

-Jessie Christopher Smith

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Fire in Oklahoma City, Logan County today prompt evacuations, road closures