Wildfire in remote western Oklahoma 70 percent contained

WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) – Emergency personnel say a wildfire that has charred 37 square miles in rural western Oklahoma and destroyed at least six structures is about 70 percent contained.

Oklahoma Forestry Services spokeswoman Michelle Finch-Walker said Tuesday that a wind shift caused the fire to burn back into itself, allowing crews to make significant progress to extinguish the blaze.

Woodward County emergency manager Matt Lehenbauer said state emergency officials will assess the damage.

Lehenbauer said an evacuation Monday afternoon forced about 125 people from their homes. The evacuation is now voluntary and it’s not clear how many people had returned. He said some firefighters have suffered exhaustion, but there are no serious injuries.

The fire began Monday near Boiling Springs State Park northeast of Woodward. The cause hasn’t been determined.