Oklahoma Firefighters Pray for Rain Amid Ongoing Wildfires

Drought, lightning, and elevated fire weather continue to pose challenges for crews battling blazes across the state.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Wildfire danger remains high in Oklahoma despite the possibility of rain in the coming days, as firefighters continue to battle multiple large and significant fires across the state. The Oklahoma Forestry Division has warned of elevated fire weather conditions through the weekend, with the potential for lightning ignitions, as the state grapples with a moderate drought that has left 91% of Oklahoma affected.

Why it matters

Oklahoma's ongoing wildfire crisis highlights the growing threat of climate change-driven extreme weather events, such as prolonged drought and lightning storms, which can exacerbate fire risk and make it increasingly difficult for firefighters to contain and extinguish blazes. The state's response efforts and resource mobilization also demonstrate the challenges of managing complex, multi-faceted emergencies in an era of more frequent and severe natural disasters.

The details

Firefighters are currently battling several large wildfires across Oklahoma, including the Turkey Creek Fire in Creek County (250 acres, 40% contained), the Nofire Hollow Fire in Cherokee County (352 acres, 80% contained), and the Devil's Backbone Fire in Pushmataha County (392 acres, 60% contained). The Oklahoma Forestry Division has warned that fire weather conditions will remain elevated through the weekend, with the potential for lightning ignitions, as a cold front approaches the area. While the forecast calls for a chance of rain, particularly in the eastern half of the state on Sunday, the rainfall totals are still uncertain, and the convective nature of the storms could result in uneven coverage across the region.

  • The Turkey Creek Fire in Creek County has been burning since February 24th.
  • The Nofire Hollow Fire in Cherokee County has been burning since February 22nd.
  • The Devil's Backbone Fire in Pushmataha County has been burning since February 23rd.

The players

Oklahoma Forestry Division

A division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture that is responsible for managing and responding to wildfires in the state.

Gary McManus

The Oklahoma Climatologist, who has expressed hope that the upcoming rain could help alleviate the state's drought conditions and wildfire risk.

Department of Agriculture

The state agency that oversees the Oklahoma Forestry Division and its wildfire response efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Fire weather continues to be elevated through Saturday for most of Oklahoma ahead of a pattern change that offers multiple storm systems and promise of rainfall. The Panhandle and western counties hold a wildfire concern in the forefront through the weekend noting potential for lightning ignitions.”

— Oklahoma Forestry Division (okenergytoday.com)

“The rain totals are still iffy, but we could see 1-3 inches across several areas of the state. Keep in mind these forecasts look like a blanket of uniform rainfall, but with the convective nature of the possible storms, there'll be some hitting and missing, of course.”

— Gary McManus, Oklahoma Climatologist (okenergytoday.com)

What’s next

The Oklahoma Forestry Division and other state agencies will continue to monitor the weather conditions and fire risk over the coming days, and will mobilize suppression resources as needed to respond to any new ignitions or flare-ups of existing wildfires.

The takeaway

Oklahoma's ongoing wildfire crisis underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing threat of climate change-driven extreme weather events, including investments in firefighting resources, land management practices, and community resilience initiatives to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems.