Mary 15

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Mary 15 Fire was initially reported on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 4:45 PM, and officially noted in the April 11 incident reports. It is located approximately 18.0 miles west-northwest of Guymon, in Texas County, Oklahoma.
Size and Containment: As of the latest reports over the last 72 hours, the fire has burned 899 acres and is currently 90% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire is primarily fueled by short grass (1 foot) and tall grass (2.5 feet). On established wildfires in the area where no rainfall has occurred, maximum head fire rates of spread have been estimated around 165 feet per minute with flame lengths of approximately 12 feet.
Containment Efforts: The Oklahoma Division of Forestry is the responsible agency managing the incident. With containment at 90%, the estimated costs for the firefighting efforts are currently reported at $2,303.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
I cannot find any information on evacuations, evacuation warnings, curfews, or shelters for the Mary 15 Fire at this time.
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: No mandatory evacuation orders have been reported.
Evacuation Warnings: No evacuation warnings have been reported.
Curfew: No curfews have been reported.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: No evacuation shelters have been reported.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:
I cannot find any information on road or infrastructure closures related to the Mary 15 Fire.

For more information, visit:

• Oklahoma Forestry Services
• Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
• Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Travel Advisories

Current Impact

Impacts:
I cannot find any information on injuries, fatalities, or structures destroyed by the Mary 15 Fire.
Injuries and Fatalities: No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Structures Impacted: No structures have been reported as damaged or destroyed.
School and Business Closures: No school or business closures have been reported.
Notable Impacts: No notable impacts to landmarks or specific communities have been reported.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: I cannot find any information on power outages related to this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: While I cannot find information on a specific county burn ban for Texas County at this moment, an Interagency Fuels & Fire Behavior Advisory has been issued for areas in Oklahoma.
Air Quality: No specific air quality alerts are currently tied directly to the Mary 15 Fire, though residents should remain cautious of smoke in the immediate vicinity of the burn area.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: The fire is currently 90% contained. Firefighters have successfully mitigated much of the spread, aided by recent moderated fire weather and rainfall in parts of the state.
Weather and Wind Warnings: While recent conditions have moderated fire danger with relative humidity values at +40%, conditions are expected to deteriorate. On Sunday, April 12, rain chances decrease in the western Panhandle, and warm, dry, and breezy conditions will return. Texas County may see afternoon relative humidity values drop as low as 10%, combined with breezy south-southwest winds sustained at 18-24 mph and gusts topping 30 mph. This will support moderate to rapid fire spread potential for any new or uncontained fires. Monday and Tuesday are expected to present near-critical to critical fire weather.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: Official incident reports list the cause of the Mary 15 Fire as natural, likely due to lightning strikes in the area.
Weather and Climate: The fire was influenced by dry, dormant vegetation in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Although recent elevated dewpoints and fine-dead fuel moisture improvements (up to 7% or higher) helped moderate the fire's behavior, the underlying climate conditions in the Panhandle remain volatile. The incoming dry air mass and strong winds will continue to elevate the fire danger concern moving into the coming week.

For more information, visit:

• Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry - Fire Situation Reports
• WFCA Fire Map - Oklahoma
• Map of Fire - Incident Tracking