Extreme Weather and Fire Danger Grip Oklahoma
On Friday, March 14, 2025, Oklahoma residents faced a harrowing day of extreme weather, marked by high winds, wildfires, and hazardous visibility conditions affecting multiple counties.
7:00 AM – A Calm Start
Hennessey residents awoke to a warm, sunny morning. The low wind and clear skies gave no indication of the severe weather conditions that would soon unfold.
11:00 AM – Sudden Wind Surge and Dangerous Conditions
Within an hour, winds escalated from 10 to 50 mph. The first emergency call came in regarding a two-vehicle accident about one mile east of Hennessey. Blinding, blowing sand had reduced visibility on Highway 51 to zero, prompting the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to close the entire section between Highway 81 and Highway 74 for eight hours.
11:30 AM – Firefighters Mobilize
Many Hennessey volunteer firefighters set up at the station, operating as a full-time fire department for rapid response. Calls for assistance poured in throughout the day, though most fires were small and quickly extinguished.
2:00 PM – Damage Reports and Road Closures
By early afternoon, reports of structural damage, downed power lines, and road closures due to low visibility increased. A grass fire near Okarche reached a residential area but was swiftly contained by the Okarche Fire Department. High winds caused three semi-trucks to be blown off the road near the south overpass on Highway 81 in Okarche.
3:00 PM – Widespread Wildfires
Hennessey avoided major fires, but neighboring counties were less fortunate. Payne County experienced significant wildfire damage, with over 50 homes and businesses destroyed. Hennessey firefighters Cris Pribyl, Kyle Keeton, and Skylar McCall traveled to assist in Logan County near Langston.
7:00 PM – Smoke Engulfs the Region
By evening, dozens of major wildfires raged across the state, filling the air over Kingfisher County with heavy smoke. The Kingfisher County 911 center was inundated with reports of smoke. Emergency officials confirmed that fires in Dewey and Custer counties were producing vast amounts of wind-driven smoke that spread into the Kingfisher County region.
9:00 PM – Winds Subside, Roads Reopen
As night fell, wind speeds decreased, allowing for the reopening of closed roads. However, lingering dust in the air cast an eerie glow over the area, marking the end of a chaotic and challenging day for Oklahoma residents and emergency responders. Photos by AAH Jack Quirk, AAK Maitland Pickle, and AAN Chris Lee.
About The Author
