Several homes in the city of Stillwater were destroyed as wildfires swept across Oklahoma state on Friday (March 14), prompting authorities to issue immediate evacuation orders to its residents.

The Stillwater Emergency Management Agency warned people not to return to evacuated areas as wildfires are still actively burning in many areas of the city, in regular updates on their social media platforms.

Evacuation orders have also been issued for other parts of Oklahoma as multiple fires continue to rage, leaving thousands of residents without power and making travel hazardous.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority have also closed a number of highways, according to local media reports. - report from Reuters