OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Grass fires driven by high winds destroyed at least 24 homes and forced hundreds of evacuations in Oklahoma, which remained extremely dry despite snowfall earlier in the week.

The worst fire raged in southern Oklahoma near Ratliff City, where it burned through at least 20 homes overnight, said Michelle Finch, fire information officer for the Oklahoma Forestry Department.

Four air tankers dropped fire retardant on the area until dark Thursday and resumed the effort early Friday. The fire, which was four miles wide, burned 7,000 to 10,000 acres and was about 50 percent contained Friday morning, said Richard Reuse, an information officer for the state’s fire response center.

At least four other homes burned near a high school several miles to the west in Stephens County, Reuse said.

Statewide, 11 fires were reported Thursday and as many as 18,406 acres burned, said Cliff Eppler, an information officer for the state’s fire response center. There were no reports of injuries, officials said.

More than 800 homes were evacuated in Tatums, Fox, Clemscott and Graham, about an hour’s drive south of Oklahoma City, officials said. Windy conditions were contributing to the spread of the fires, and shifting winds increased the danger.

“When that front went through here it was unbelievable,” Reuse said. “Flags just whipped around their directions and the fire went roaring the other way. That’s to be expected when a cold front comes through. It’s a real dangerous situation.”

There is little if any chance of precipitation in the next seven days, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist John Pike said the fire danger will remain high through at least Tuesday.

“We’re supposed to be in winter, but it doesn’t look like any winter weather is coming,” Pike said.

Gov. Brad Henry had planned an aerial tour of fire-damaged areas in southern Oklahoma on Friday, but he canceled the trip so the helicopter could be used to fight the fires, said his spokesman, Paul Sund.

In Oklahoma alone, grass fires have destroyed more than 220 homes and businesses and killed two people since Nov. 1. Wildfires have also menaced Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

In northern Texas, firefighters continued Friday to battle a blaze that had consumed at least 4,000 acres and threatened 20 homes about 100 miles west of Dallas, the Texas Forest Service said.

AP-ES-01-13-06 1218EST