Fire at Spencer Circle and 108th Avenue Northeast

Fire at Spencer Circle and 108th Avenue Northeast on March 14.

Contributors to this report: OU Daily's editors Peggy Dodd, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza; reporters Natalie Armour, Keaton Shaffer and Macey Thaxton; photo editor Annie Davenport; and videographers/photographers Willie Gillespie, Evan Rebhorn and Bob Nguyen.

The National Weather Service issued an evacuation order Friday for residents in East Norman due to wildfires.

Norman residents can sign up for emergency alerts via text, email or call. Please call 911 for emergencies only. Don't return to an evacuated area until an all-clear is issued.

Evacuation shelter locations

• Little Axe Community Center, at 1000 168th Ave. NE.

• CrossPointe Church, at 2601 24th Ave. SE.

Mapping fire locations; routes to avoid

According to the Weather Channel, residents should avoid areas along and east of 108th Avenue to 132nd Street and north of Post Oak Road to Highway 9.

Friday weather forecast

A high wind warning was issued for portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas until 10 p.m.

A blowing dust advisory is also in effect until 9 p.m.

Scene at CrossPointe Church shelter site

8:25 p.m.

Evacuees quietly spread throughout CrossPointe Church as the sun set Friday evening after six fires burned across East Norman. Families, kids, friends and pets sat among Pop-Tarts and tote bags filled with assortments of belongings. 

One woman, who sat on a bench next to two young boys on the side of the church auditorium, told OU Daily she had fled a domestic violence situation. When the women’s shelter they were staying at was placed under an evacuation order, and everyone else had left, she had nowhere else to go. 

“We’re here from elsewhere, so we don't have any family nearby. My car is in the shop, so luckily I looked on the news and saw that this was open,” she said. 

Across from a ledge piled with bottled water and packaged food, Carolyn Nelson waited to hear when she could go home. Next to her, in a pet carrier, was her cat, Sassy. When she was told to evacuate in the afternoon, she set out for a friend’s house east of her home on 108th Avenue, but they were soon evacuated again. 

Nelson said the last time she had to evacuate due to a fire was over a decade ago, but she had family in the area at the time. Now, it's just her and Sassy, and she has to lean on friends.

At the church entrance, Red Cross volunteers and CrossPointe Church staff readied to receive supplies and more evacuees. 

“We were prepared, as far as the facility availability to opening,” said Trey Roberts, a representative for CrossPointe Church. “It's been a great outreach from those businesses in the community.”

While more evacuees trickled in, volunteers prepared to set up overnight resources and cots, while Normanites prayed, ate and wondered when the all-clear would come. 

Areas under evacuation orders

As of 8:20 p.m., several areas of East Norman are still under evacuation orders:

• 108th Avenue Southeast and Post Oak Road.

• 108th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road.

• 120th Avenue Southeast and Tucker Trail.

• 192nd Avenue Northeast and Spencer Circle.

• 192nd Avenue Northeast and East Robinson Road.

• 120th Avenue Southeast and Etowah Road.

• 120th Avenue Southeast to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek Road and Franklin Road.

• Etowah Road to State Highway 9 between 84th Avenue and 144th Avenue Southeast. 

OG&E reported 62 outages across the Norman area, with 2,407 customers affected or without electricity. 

Latest updates

7:55 p.m.

OG&E reported 42 outages across the Norman area, with 1,266 customers affected or without electricity.

7:09 p.m.

6:59 p.m.

OG&E reported 38 outages across the Norman area, with 2,342 customers affected or without electricity.

6:29 p.m.

OG&E reported 30 outages across the Norman area, with 1,771 customers affected or without electricity.

5:44 p.m.

Norman Police Department announced two new areas under evacuation due to large and quick moving fires.

• 120th Avenue Southeast to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek Road and Franklin Road.

• Etowah Road to State Highway 9 between 84th Avenue and 144th Avenue Southeast.

5:40 p.m.

OG&E reported 54 outages across the Norman area, with 2,047 customers affected or without electricity.

5:35 p.m.

Fire near 120th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road in Norman around 5:35 p.m. on March 14. 

5:23 p.m.

OG&E reported 31 outages across the Norman area, with 3,719 customers affected or without electricity.

5:15 p.m.

Fire near 120th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road in Norman around 5:15 p.m. on March 14. 

5:05 p.m.

NPD announced 120th Avenue Southeast and Etowah Road is under evacuation due to a large fire in the area.

4:56 p.m.

OG&E reported 41 outages across the Norman area, with 4,297 customers affected or without electricity.

4:44 p.m.

4:32 p.m.

OG&E reported 39 outages across the Norman area, with 2,498 customers affected or without electricity.

4:21 p.m.

Norman residents living on Spencer Circle congregated at the end of their street watching fires engulf the area. According to one homeowner, firefighters knocked on their doors to notify them of the evacuation but left the area soon after.

One man watched as his house went up in flames, quickly spreading to every room of his home. Trees, grass and plants surrounding the home caught the flames. 

“My to-do list around the house just got a whole lot shorter,” the man said.

Despite the devastation, residents talk and laugh amongst themselves, saying they were thankful to have had time to grab pets and loved ones.

Some home owners searched for lost pets, others walked toward the devastation to see if they could assist. Many residents don’t know whether their homes are on fire or not. One home owner said he has lived in Norman since 1992 and worries his beloved home will burn down.

Fire at Spencer Circle and 108th Avenue Northeast

A man watches a fire at Spencer Circle and 108th Avenue Northeast on March 14.

4:20 p.m.

OG&E reported 56 outages across the Norman area, with 5,643 customers affected or without electricity.

3:56 p.m.

There are about 20 Norman residents being sheltered at CrossPointe Church due to the fires.

According to a CrossPointe Church disaster relief member, Red Cross is offering water and snacks for people seeking shelter. Crest Foods will donate food to residents at the shelter.

3:44 p.m.

The city of Norman reported 108th Avenue Northeast and Spencer Circle is under evacuation.

3:39 p.m.

Norman resident Jacob Childress talks about being evacuated.

Jacob Childress, a resident seeking shelter at Little Axe Recreation Center.

3:33 p.m.

OG&E reported there are currently 31 outages in Norman, with 4,012 customers affected or without electricity.

3:22 p.m.

OG&E reported 61 outages in Norman, with 4,296 customers affected or without electricity.

3:19 p.m.

According to fire updates from the city of Norman, East Rock Creek Road at 120th Avenue Northeast is closed and under evacuation.

3:13 p.m.

According to fire updates by the city of Norman, 120th Avenue Southeast and Tucker Trail is currently under evacuation.

The website also added CrossPointe Church, at 2601 24th Ave. SE, as an evacuation shelter.

Other major fires reported and under evacuation in the Norman area include:

• 108th Avenue Southeast and Post Oak Road.

• 108th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road.

• 192nd Avenue Northeast and East Robinson Road.

Wind outside Little Axe Community Center

Winds outside Little Axe Community Center.

3 p.m.

NPD announced evacuations are taking place at 192nd Avenue Northeast and Robinson Street due to fires in the area.

2:57 p.m.

2:44 p.m.

OG&E reports 35 outages in Norman, with 4,209 customers affected or without electricity. The first outage was reported at 10:38 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

WATCH: Fire at 108th Avenue Northeast and Post Oak Road in Norman around 2:30 p.m. on March 14. 

2:29 p.m.

NPD announced additional evacuations at Tecumseh Road.

2 p.m.

Fire at 108th Avenue Northeast and Indian Hills Road in Norman around 2 p.m. on March 14. 

1:20 p.m.

Fire at University Boulevard and Nebraska Street in Norman around 1:20 p.m. on March 14.

WATCH: High winds and dry conditions are creating a risk for extreme fire danger this afternoon in Norman as a dust storm moves into Oklahoma:

Copy editing during this breaking news event: Mary Ann Livingood, Grace Rhodes, Sophie Hemker, Avery Avery, Geethika Kollu and Ryan Little.

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