Brush fires

[Zoedith]

Is anyone watching the brush fires? We have a couple of people at work who are concerned for their homes, but we cannot get the news here.

[Karried]

Zoedith, check out the Oklahoman online http://www.newsok.com/ They are setting up a shelter for people at Mustang Community Center

There were a few damaged homes and a few injuries near SW 152 and Sara Rd - Fire is pretty much controlled with just a few hot spots as of 2:53pm

[Zoedith]

Thanks Karried, did you hear anything about the one in choctaw at 15th and indian meridian?

[Karried]

I listened to a short portion of it.. I think I heard a car lot was in the path but not much more on that one .. I'll see if I can find out anything...is that where your friend's homes are?

[Karried]

Okay, as of 4:00 - 4 homes have been lost and the fire is threatening the Elementary school in Choctaw -

[Zoedith]

Actually one house was in Mustang and the other persons home is supposed to be right there at 15th and Indian Meridian. Thanks for checking, I listened to newsok's last update, but they sure don't tell a whole lot. Thanks again.

[Karried]

This should help you out:

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5679415/detail.html

Here's a rundown of the very latest updates in Tuesday's fires across the metro (updated 4:14 p.m.):

• The Oklahoma Dept. of Emergency Management reports they've received reports of wildfires in Hughes, Okmulgee, Bryan, Carter, Love, Canadian and Oklahoma counties.
• State Highway 78 in Bryan County has been shut down for a 5-mile stretch, near Achille. Units are assisting with several fires in the area, and officials said they've shut down state Highway 91 periodically. Officials also report that several structures have been lost.
• Mustang officials are now asking people to go to the First Baptist Church of Mustang at 928 N. Mustang Rd. The Red Cross has set up there. Anyone with questions about the Mustang fire can call 376-3411.
• Two Mustang day care facilities have evacuated. Kidville is taking kids to 308 S Douglas, and Country Charm is taking its kids to the Wal-Mart at Highway 152 and Sara Rd. and the First Baptist Church on Mustang Rd.
• Several Garvin County fires have been reported, including one southeast of Lindsey, one on Highway 77, south of Pauls Valley, one on the Pauls Valley golf course and four in the city of Stratford.
• The Southern Oklahoma Resources Center, which houses about 200-250 handicapped patients in Pauls Valley, is being evacuated.
• Choctaw officials are reporting that four homes have been lost so far.
• New brush fire reported in Oklahoma City at 18703 Sun Valley Rd. at about 3:10 p.m.
• A grass fire has been reported on the eastern edge of Stillwater. Crews from Glenco, Ripley and Engles are assisting, and officials said that structures are threatened by this blaze.
• The Mustang fire is near Highway 152 and Sara Road, with flames approaching Morgan Road. Officials said residents are being evacuated in the area.
• A fire has been reported at Southeast 15th Street and Indian Meridian. Officials said the fire is threatening Indian Meridian Elementary school.
• The fires in the Yukon area are being wrapped up. Officials said the fires did not spread to homes.
• A brush fire has been reported near Peebly and Wilshire.

[Keith]

Grass fires damage homes

From Staff and Wire Reports

Four people were injured and several homes were destroyed Tuesday afternoon by a large grassfire that started just east of Mustang, authorities said.



The fire which burned for almost 3 hours, started about 12:10 p.m. near Sara Road and Highway 152, Oklahoma City fire officials said.

Four Mustang residents were taken to local hospitals, Emergency Medical Services Authority spokeswoman Lara O'Leary said. Their conditions were not available.

Mustang Mayor Chad McDowell said the fire destroyed at least 6 homes and damaged several others. He said a temporary shelter was set up at the First Baptist Church of Mustang, 928 N Mustang Road, to house any displaced families. Several other Mustang churches were opening their doors Tuesday to feed the families affected by the fire.

The main body of the fire was put out about 3 p.m. but fire crews were still putting out house fires and other hot spots.

Workers from the Canadian Valley chapter of the American Red Cross were providing emergency assistance for affected families and supplying water and snacks for firefighters Tuesday afternoon, said executive director Gina Gathers.

Firefighters also put out grass fires in three areas of Oklahoma City Tuesday, Oklahoma City Fire Maj. Brian Stanaland said. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and a child suffered minor burns to his hands when a shed caught fire. That fire apparently was apparently started by children playing with fireworks, Stanaland said.

Video shot from news helicopters showed a blackened area of grass and brush in Mustang and no active flames by late Tuesday afternoon. Residents had been concerned the fire might spread further.

"Everybody is out now watering their yards and standing in their yards," said Harold Percival, who lives about a mile from the fire area. He said smoke from the fires had eased by late Tuesday afternoon. "It's clear as a bell now," he said.

An evacuation center was set up in Mustang for people who had been in the path of the fire.

Smoke from a separate grass fire limited visibility along Interstate 35 in southern Oklahoma near the Texas state line and forced authorities to close the highway south of Pauls Valley in Garvin County, said Kent Meeker of the Pauls Valley Fire Department. He said at least two structures were burning.

"We've got 15 to 20 trucks and 50 to 60 firefighters here," he said. "We've got to take care of the structures, then we've got to get the interstate open."

Wind gusts reached 40 mph in Oklahoma Tuesday and temperatures reached about 70 degrees at some locations.

A Red Flag fire alert was posted for parts of the state because of the combination of high wind and dry vegetation.

"We've had warm temperatures, no moisture, low humidity and winds, so any little spark and man it just goes," Stanaland said.

Michelann Ooten, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Emergency Management, said grass fires had also been reported in Hughes, Okmulgee, Bryan, Carter and Love counties. She didn't know how many structures had been damaged in these areas. "We want to remind everybody there is a burn ban across the entire state -- no outdoor burning whatever," she said. She said people should be careful where they discard cigarettes and to avoid driving into smoky areas.