Agency: Fire could be worst in Texas history

By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Texas Forest Service braces for more wildfires SundayNEW: Weather conditions for wildfires could be among the worst ever, agency says. Firefighters battle 18 blazes across the stateA grass fire in Oklahoma forces evacuations (CNN) -- Texas Forest Service officials on Sunday braced for what could be one of the worst days in the state's history for battling wildfires, according to the agency.

Relentless heavy winds and dry weather, according to the Forest Service, could even spawn a rash of wildfires similar to those that swept across the southern plains states on April 9, 2009. Those fires, the agency stated on its website, scorched 147,924 acres, destroyed 111 homes and killed four people.

"Wildfire weather conditions on Sunday could shape up to be among the worst in Texas history," the Forest Service stated.

Strong winds whipped up wildfires across north and west Texas Saturday.

Texas Forest Service spokesman Alan Craft said the group's crews on Saturday battled 18 fires, the largest of which was the Swenson Fire, located in northern Texas.

That blaze burned some 61,500 acres and destroyed at least one home, said Craft. As of late Saturday, the blaze had not been contained, officials said.

The National Weather Service, citing strong winds and relatively low humidity, has issued a red flag warning for the western parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Elsewhere in the U.S. southwest, a grass fire burning just south of Cleveland, Oklahoma prompted evacuations on Saturday.

As many as 70 firefighters were involved in the response, as well as three helicopters, said Terry Dennis, a spokesman with the Cleveland Fire Department. Twelve families checked into a Red Cross shelter, but more were evacuated, he said.

Dennis said Saturday there had been no reports of injuries.

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