Grass Fires Erupt in Oklahoma, Missouri Under Windy, Warm Conditions

As expanding warmth blooms throughout the Plains, putting dozens of daily record highs in danger, it has created an extreme risk of fast-spreading wild and grass fires. Blazes popped up in Oklahoma and Missouri, prompting evacuations and shutdowns of roadways. 

Here's what we know about the impacts from these fires.

(FORECAST: Warmer Temperatures, Extreme Fire Danger) 

Oklahoma

Several grass fires broke out across the Sooner State Thursday afternoon, but there were no reports of injuries, the Associated Press said.

In Mannford, a growing fire led to evacuations Thursday afternoon and the 412 Turnpike was shut down, according to a KOCO-TV reporter. 

Around 2:15 p.m. Thursday, firefighters closed a state highway near Sarge Creek due to a grass fire, the AP also said. 

The threat of fires continued Thursday afternoon, as crews arrived on the scene to respond to a large grass fire in Grady County, just southwest of the town of Minco, reports News 9. The fire started near Clayton Road and State Highway 81 and several fire departments have been brought in to fight the blaze.

There has not been any word on if homes are in danger, KFOR.com reported, but the inferno has since been extinguished.

A fire broke out in Owasso at the Owasso Golf & Athletic Club Thursday, according to News on 6. Several structures were threatened by the blaze, the report added, but firefighters were able to quickly get it under control. 

A grass fire shut down eastbound lanes of Cimarron Turnpike Thursday afternoon at Mile Marker 49, according to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Westbound lanes at State Highway 48 were also shut down.

In Pawnee County, a large grass fire erupted near State Highway 48 and 5700 Road Thursday afternoon, News on 6 also reported. According to the county emergency manager, officials were in the process of evacuating buildings in the fire’s path just before 2 p.m.

A fire sprouted in Cleveland County Thursday, near 180th Avenue Southeast and Alameda Street, south of Highway 9, KOCO.com said. That fire has since been extinguished.

Missouri

Twelve fire departments were dispatched to combat a blaze that left 1,500 acres charred near Beverly, according to KMBC.com. Some residents left the area as a precautionary measure, but no formal evacuation orders were issued, the report added.

Thursday morning, fire crews in Kansas City were called to the 28000 block of Northwest Missouri 92 Highway to combat a large grass fire, KMBC.com also reported. Authorities believe the fire was sparked by grass-cutting equipment on prison property.

By Thursday afternoon, the blaze was about 75 percent contained, the report added.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Plains Grass Fires and Wildfires, October 2015