Powerful winds moving across the Southwestern United States and the Great Plains on Tuesday prompted dire warnings from forecasters and local officials that wildfires could break out and spread rapidly.
In Colorado, the winds were also blamed for a highway pileup that left at least four people dead on Tuesday. More than 30 vehicles were involved in the deadly crash, on Interstate 25 near Pueblo, and more than two dozen people were treated for injuries, the Colorado State Police said, calling the conditions a “brownout” caused by dust and dirt that severely limited visibility.
High-wind warnings were in place in parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, with each area facing its own particular danger. Around El Paso, Texas, forecasters warned that the wind could kick up dust and limit visibility to a quarter-mile in places. Elsewhere, it was the potential for fast-moving wildfires that had local officials most concerned.
In Goodland, Kan., the National Weather Service on Tuesday issued a “particularly dangerous situation” alert, a type of warning the agency uses rarely, when especially extreme conditions are forecast. The combustible combination of high winds and low humidity across the region means that wildfires are more likely to break out, and more likely to spread quickly if they do.
About three million people across parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas were under the highest risk, the Weather Service said.
At least two fast-moving wildfires had been reported by Tuesday afternoon.
The Ranger Road fire in Oklahoma has jumped state lines into Kansas and is now estimated to affect 15,000 acres, said Bryce Boyer, director of communications for the state’s Agriculture Department. The department is not yet sure how the fire started, he said.
The fire has grown because of “dormant fuels” such as leaves, branches and dead grass, Mr. Boyer said. Wind gusts of over 65 miles per hour have been recorded, he said, and the high winds have prevented firefighting flights.
Tyrone, Okla., was under an evacuation, according to a social media post from the Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department. The department asked residents to go toward Liberal, Kan. Earlier in the day the department responded to a fire in Tyrone and found town residents with garden hoses putting out the fire, according to another social media post.
In Kansas, the cities of Ashland and Inglewood were under mandatory evacuations, said Clay Kuhns, an attorney for Clark County. Six fire departments and four law enforcement agencies were responding to help fight the fire, he said.
Herndon, Kan., was also being evacuated, according to a social media post from Rawlins County Emergency Management.
Blowing dust and low visibility caused a multiple-vehicle crash and closed a portion of Route 50 in Kansas, according to the state’s Transportation Department.
Wednesday is expected to bring additional fire weather across much of the region, the Weather Service said.
Erin McCann contributed reporting.
Rylee Kirk reports on breaking news, trending topics and major developing stories for The Times.
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