This fire has easily been the worst disaster in terms of property destruction ever experienced in Stillwater since the tornado of June 15, 1990. Fortunately, unlike in 1990 not one death. But even then, the tornado didn't wipe out houses clear down to the ground level. I tend to doubt OKC TV media have done the fire justice, but Reuters was on the scene in the middle of it during that long night:
https://www.reuters.com/pictures/pictures-raging-wildfires-rip-across-oklahoma-2025-03-16/
Statement issued from Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce:
Grief and Gratitude:
Preliminary counts indicate that at least
74 homes in Stillwater and the immediate vicinity have been totally destroyed by fire. Several more are damaged and likely uninhabitable. It’s hard to describe the extent of the loss for these families; in most cases there is nothing but ashes remaining of almost everything they own. We thank God that no lives have been lost, or serious injuries reported. But the road to recovery will be long and difficult, and our collective grief for our neighbors is profound.
In the midst of this tragedy, we have witnessed the heights of bravery, selflessness, determination, and sacrifice from the men and women of Stillwater Fire Department and the numerous outside agencies that have come to our aid. They have faced hellish conditions and have pushed through to save hundreds of homes and businesses. Our dispatchers answered more than 2,000 calls for service between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning, and diligently worked to get help for as many people as possible, against insurmountable odds. The brave officers of Stillwater Police Department evacuated hundreds of people, transported vulnerable residents to safety, extinguished hotspots, and maintained order in a high-pressure crisis situation. Our emergency management teams have directed responses among multiple competing priorities, ensured our personnel had as much support and assistance as possible, and along with the City’s fantastic communications team, kept the public informed.
I cannot fully express the gratitude and appreciation I have for Stillwater’s first responders. They embody the spirit of #StillwaterStrong and the #OklahomaStandard.
So many others, too, have gone to extraordinary lengths to help others during this difficult time: City employees, Payne County/state officials, neighbors with garden hoses, local restaurants, event organizers, and lots more. I will try over the next few days to publicly say thank you to as many of these heroes as I can, but for tonight I invite you to join me in thoughts and prayers of comfort for the displaced and of thanksgiving for the helpers.
Photo from Reuters/Nick Oxford, March 14. Many more at:
https://www.reuters.com/pictures/pictures-raging-wildfires-rip-across-oklahoma-2025-03-16/