Weekend Rains Help Contain Oklahoma Wildfires

Much-needed rain fell in northwestern Oklahoma, an area that’s been hit hard by recent wildfires. Both major wildires had been burning since April 12, damaging approximately 350,000 acres. Rain fell on April 20-21 in the counties hit hardest by those wildfires, helping officials in containing the blazes. An Oklahoma forestry report issued this week shows both major fires are contained and the acreage affected by wildfires has decreased.

The 34 Complex Fire has burned over 62,400 acres and is 94 percent contained. The Rhea Fire has destroyed almost 270,000 acres and is 74% contained. The rainfall moisture from last weekend almost equaled the total amount of moisture those same areas had picked up over the previous six months combined. The rainfall totaled over one inch in the area affected by the 34 Complex Fire, and the area affected by the Rhea Fire received just over three-quarters of an inch of rain through the weekend. The weather forecast is promising more rain chances through the rest of the week in areas hit hardest by the wildfires.

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