Four people have been killed and at least 200 injured in an outbreak of wildfires in Oklahoma, officials said.
There has been one death each in Lincoln, Garfield, Haskell, and Pawnee counties, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) said in an update Monday. The medical examiner’s office determined the deaths were due to the fires or high winds.
It’s believed that one person in Pawnee was trying to escape his home when “it became engulfed in flames, hindering his ability to evacuate,” the sheriff’s office said in a Saturday news release.
Concerned neighbors contacted authorities after searching the scorched home and found what is believed to be human remains. His identity was not released.
Oklahoma House Rep. Jim Shaw identified another victim as Allen Ferguson, a youth wrestling coach in Chandler who died while trying to save his son, Will, who is hospitalized in critical condition.
“Allen was a hero, and his dedication to his family and our community will never be forgotten,” Shaw said in a Monday night news release on Facebook.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has identified at least 200 injuries. OEM said more than 400 homes across the state have been damaged. Residents are asked to report damage at damage.ok.gov to help officials identify impacted areas.
Because of gusty winds and low humidity, much of the state remains under a red flag warning until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
