Campus Alert Archive
OSU

26,000 Acres Ablaze Around Stillwater: OSU Opens Colvin Center Shelter as 100 Homes Burn in Payne County

OKwildfireemergency notificationhigh confidence
Confirmed Threat

On March 14, 2025, a historic wildfire outbreak fueled by extreme winds burned more than 26,000 acres in and around Payne County, destroying or damaging nearly 100 homes near Stillwater. While the Oklahoma State University campus itself was not directly impacted by fire, the university opened the Colvin Center Annex as an emergency shelter and issued Cowboy Alerts directing the community to stay indoors due to hazardous wind and fire conditions.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Oklahoma State University
Public R1 · OK
~36,000 studentsCowboy Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 3 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTPush
Verified verbatimVerbatim alert text published on the OSU Safety announcements page for the March 2025 extreme wind / wildfire event245 chars
Extreme wind is causing hazardous conditions. Stay inside unless told by public safety to do otherwise. If you must go out, exercise caution and watch for flying debris. Fires have been reported in Payne County; many are reporting power outages.
Verbatim notification text published on safety.okstate.edu in OSU's running announcements log for the extreme wind and fire conditions event on March 14, 2025
The campus remained safe throughout the wildfire event, though fires burned on multiple sides of Stillwater
Highway SH-51 from Meridian Road to Country Club Road west of Stillwater was closed due to fire impacts
UPDATEPush
Verified verbatimVerbatim 10:20 PM update on the OSU Safety announcements page for Lake Carl Blackwell evacuation215 chars
Update: 10:20 pm - Lake Carl Blackwell has been upgraded to a mandatory evacuation area and will be closed until further notice. The mandatory evacuation will not be lifted until it's safe for individuals to return.
Verbatim 10:20 PM CDT update posted on safety.okstate.edu announcing the mandatory evacuation of OSU's Lake Carl Blackwell property
Lake Carl Blackwell, owned by OSU, was placed under mandatory evacuation as fires threatened the area
The Colvin Annex closed later that evening as displaced individuals were moved to the Payne County Expo Center
UPDATEPush
Verified verbatimVerbatim shelter-transition update on OSU Safety announcements page for the March 14, 2025 wildfires210 chars
As an overnight shelter with additional resources has been established, the Colvin Annex is closing. They are providing transportation to the Payne County Expo Center for those currently in refuge at the Annex.
Verbatim update posted on safety.okstate.edu announcing the closure of the Colvin Annex shelter and transportation to the Payne County Expo Center
Stillwater Fire Chief Terry Essary reported 75 structures lost in his area alone
The OSU Equestrian team evacuated 54 horses during the high winds and thick smoke on March 14
Context

Background

On March 14, 2025, a historic storm event brought extreme winds that fueled over 130 wildfires across Oklahoma, burning more than 170,000 acres statewide and destroying hundreds of homes. In Payne County, where Oklahoma State University is located, more than 26,000 acres burned and nearly 100 homes were destroyed or damaged. The university activated its emergency operations center and issued Cowboy Alerts directing the community to stay indoors. Although the campus itself was never directly threatened by flames, fires burned in close proximity to Stillwater on multiple sides. The Colvin Center Annex was opened as an emergency shelter, and the OSU Equestrian team evacuated 54 horses in the thick smoke. Lake Carl Blackwell, an OSU-owned property, was placed under mandatory evacuation. FEMA declared a federal disaster (DR-4866-OK) covering 12 Oklahoma counties. Stillwater Fire Chief Terry Essary reported 75 structures lost in his area alone.
Analysis

Key Findings

The campus was never directly impacted by fire, but the university served as a critical emergency shelter for the surrounding community
Over 26,000 acres burned in Payne County and nearly 100 homes near Stillwater were destroyed or damaged
The OSU Equestrian team evacuated 54 horses during the high winds and thick smoke
FEMA declared a federal disaster for 12 Oklahoma counties following the wildfire outbreak
Outcome
The campus remained safe and unaffected by fire throughout the event. The Colvin Center Annex sheltered displaced students and employees before they were transferred to the Payne County Expo Center for overnight shelter. Lake Carl Blackwell was placed under mandatory evacuation. The fires destroyed approximately 100 homes in Stillwater and surrounding areas. FEMA declared a federal disaster for 12 Oklahoma counties.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Hazardous wind, fire conditions (OSU Safety)
    safety.okstate.edu
  2. Source
    Wildfire Situation Update 1 - Mar 14 2025 (Oklahoma OEM)
    oklahoma.gov
  3. Student Paper
    How OSU's emergency operations center led the university through 2025 wildfires (O'Colly)
    ocolly.com
  4. Source
    Oklahoma Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds (FEMA DR-4866-OK)
    fema.gov
  5. Source
    2025 Oklahoma wildfires (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
wildfireoklahomastillwateremergency-shelterevacuationfema-disasterhorse-evacuationcommunity-impact
Added May 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion