With a recorded high of 113 degrees (45 Celsius) hundreds of people were ordered to evacuate from the affected areas of interstate 44, historic Route 66 and two state highways due to smoke as the city became engulfed in flames. Firefighters tried their best to contain the fire, which continued to spread at an alarming rate, engulfing homes and destroying wooded areas.
According to Oklahoma emergency service officials, at least 65 homes were destroyed in 11 different wildfires in parched areas north and south of Oklahoma City and south of Tulsa, Reuters reported.
"Low humidity, strong southerly winds and drought conditions enabled the wildfires to spread quickly across treetops. It's just a very difficult situation were facing that's all weather-related," Michelann Ooten, deputy director of the state's office of Emergency Management, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Like in most natural disaster fashions there were some people who did not want to leave their homes nor possessions, similar to situations like hurricane Katrina, that flooded a large portion of New Orleans back in 2005, this practice has proven fatal.
"A man refused to leave. From What I know he wanted to protect his property, but your life has t be more valuable that property," John Whetsel, Oklahoma County Sheriff told AP.
Many states across the U.S. are currently plagues by wildfires and severe droughts this summer, including Texas, Kansas, and Arkansas.
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