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Crews battle to save homes as Oklahoma wildfire rages near Guthrie Crews battle to save homes as Oklahoma wildfire rages near Guthrie
(about 7 hours later)
Crews were battling a large wildfire in central Oklahoma near Guthrie early on Monday. The fire destroyed several homes as it raced through a parched landscape. Firefighters facing another hot and windy forecast worked on Monday to battle a large wildfire in central Oklahoma that destroyed at least six homes and left one person dead after a controlled burn got out of control.
The wildfire broke out on Sunday when a controlled burn that began at about 4pm got out of hand, Guthrie Fire Department chief Eric Harlow said. By 9pm it had burned an estimated four to six square miles of land, as well as several homes, he said. The wildfire broke out on Sunday afternoon near Guthrie and by 9pm had burned an estimated four to six square miles of land as well as several homes, Guthrie Fire Department chief Eric Harlow said. The fire was still burning on Monday and threatening about 150 additional homes; Harlow said the blaze was about 75% contained.
A 56-year-old man was found dead in his home on Sunday night after the blazed passed through that area, Harlow said. Temperatures later on Monday were expected to hit 100F, with winds gusting from the south at 33mph. Tuesday's winds were expected to be higher still, enhancing the chance that the fire could spread more.
Tabitha Diamond, who lives in an area a few miles from Guthrie where the fire swept through, told KOCO-TV she was returning from a music festival in Noble when she saw the flames and sped home. The fire missed her place, but it destroyed someone's trailer home nearby, she said. "It's not that big … but the potential is there," said Captain Stan May of the Oklahoma Incident Management Team. He said two Black Hawk UH-60 helicopters from the army national guard were being sent in to help put water on the fire, with a third on standby.
"It didn't get close enough, but it got too close," she said, referring to the fire's threat to her home. Rains last week had left emergency crews hopeful that the fire danger would be reduced, but Sunday's fire "managed to slip by us", May said.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter for those affected by the fire at a church in Guthrie. Insurance commissioner John Doak, who had planned to tour the area Monday, had to wait until the fire was more under control, spokeswoman Kesha Keith said.
High winds and dry conditions fueled several wildfires in Oklahoma on Sunday. The Guthrie Fire Department said six homes were destroyed and that the number of damaged or destroyed homes was expected to rise on Monday. Fire department crews assessed the fire and damage by helicopter at daybreak.
Tabitha Diamond, who lives a few miles from Guthrie, told KOCO-TV that she was returning from a music festival in Noble when she saw the flames and hurried home. The fire missed her home but destroyed a nearby trailer home.
"It didn't get close enough, but it got too close," she said.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter at a church in Guthrie for those affected by the fire.
Winds are expected to gust to 36mph and reach 39mph Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. The next chance of rain arrives on Wednesday.