Four people have been killed and at least 200 have been injured in an outbreak of wildfires in Oklahoma, officials said.
There has been one death each in Lincoln, Garfield, Haskell, and Pawnee counties, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said in an update Monday. The medical examiner's office determined the deaths were due to the fires or high winds.
It's believed that one person in Pawnee was trying to escape his home when "it became engulfed in flames, hindering his ability to evacuate," the sheriff's office said in a news release Saturday.
Concerned neighbors contacted authorities after they searched the scorched home and found what are believed to be human remains. The man’s identity was not released.
Oklahoma House Rep. Jim Shaw identified another victim as Allen Ferguson, a youth wrestling coach in Chandler who died while he was trying to save his son, Will, who is hospitalized in critical condition.
"Allen was a hero, and his dedication to his family and our community will never be forgotten," Shaw said Monday night in a news release on Facebook.
The State Department of Health has identified at least 200 injuries. The Emergency Management Department said more than 400 homes across the state have been damaged. Residents are asked to report damage at damage.ok.gov to help officials identify affected areas.
Because of gusty winds and low humidity, much of the state remains under a red flag warning until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
