Red flag warnings in Chicago and Oklahoma as firefighters gain control of Colorado fire

Rare emergency warnings were issued in Chicago and western Oklahoma as autumn heat gripped much of the country and firefighters said they had the upper hand in a wildfire threatening homes in Colorado.

It may already be the end of October, but the U.S. bushfire season Fires were flaring again across the country as at least 11 active U.S. wildfires raged from California to New Jersey, officials said.

The National Weather Service has issued an alert for western, northwest and northern Oklahoma, where firefighters are battling multiple wildfires near the cities of Cushing, Chickasha, Cimmarone City, Wellston and Saling. The fires forced the evacuation of some homes and destroyed “several” residences in Logan County, according to Logan County Emergency Management.

The largest active fire in Oklahoma is the Rush Fire, which has burned more than 12,000 acres of the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. The wildfire, which started Thursday, was 48% contained Tuesday night, officials said.

On Tuesday, the NWS also issued a Red Flag Warning for the Chicago area, saying, “Critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will occur soon.” Temperatures in Chicago rose to 82 degrees on Tuesday, setting a daily heat record.

Gusty winds and dry weather helped spread a grass fire that broke out south of Chicago on Tuesday, shutting down part of Interstate 74 due to smoke, officials said.

On Wednesday, the highest fire danger is forecast for the southern Plains, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

Dangerous fires are also being seen in parts of New Mexico, where officials have issued a “State of Preparedness” warning for residents of Lake Bonito in Lincoln County to be ready to evacuate if the Blue Front Fire, which started Monday and has burned 270 acres, On Tuesday it got worse.

The Highland Lake Fire, which started around 4 p.m. Monday and burned 166 acres near Divide, was 80% contained Wednesday afternoon, Colorado fire officials said. All evacuation orders have been lifted, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a news conference Wednesday.

“The reason it was so successful and the reason we’re here 72 hours later and not seven days later is because of all the work that was done that first day, that first night,” Mikesell said.

Investigators investigating the cause of the fire are focusing on the structure destroyed by the flames, the sheriff said. He said investigators suspect the fire was “human caused” but it remains unclear whether the cause was accidental or criminal.

Mikesel said firefighters on the front lines faced winds of more than 50 mph and gusts of more than 60 mph Tuesday, but they were making significant progress in containing the fire.

Mikel About 150 firefighters battled the blaze Wednesday.

The Teller County Board of Commissioners has declared a local emergency. One structure was destroyed by Monday evening, county officials said in a release.

No injuries were reported.

The sheriff’s office was contacted and received assistance from several agencies in the area in putting out the fire, Mikesell said.

The NWS has issued alarming warnings about dangerous fires in the watershed.

Elsewhere this week, a red flag warning was issued in Massachusetts, where firefighters continue to battle a 400-acre wildfire near Salem. Firefighters are also battling another wildfire that started Sunday and has burned at least 250 acres near Middleton, Massachusetts.

At least 11 major active fires across the U.S. have burned more than 1 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. According to the center, at least 4,000 forest firefighters fought the fire.

Wildfires also burned in Michigan, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon and New Jersey.

The heightened risk of wildfires comes amid record high temperatures across the country. High temperature records were either set or broken in dozens of cities Monday, including Oklahoma City; Kansas City, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Witchita Falls, Texas; and Austin, Texas.

Temperatures in Minneapolis rose to nearly 80 degrees on Monday.

The NWS also issued a rare red flag warning this week for New York City, which has not seen significant rain for about a month.

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy issued a “Water Watch” advising businesses and residents to conserve water.

A wildfire that broke out last week in a drought-stricken area near the town of Rockaway in Morris County, New Jersey, has burned nearly 80 acres, officials said.

On Monday, the NWS in Philadelphia and New York issued special weather statements warning of an increased risk of wildfires spreading.

According to the statement, “Vegetation remains very dry and has the potential to become fuel for fires. These conditions will encourage the spread of any fires that ignite, which can quickly become difficult to control.”