500-plus acres burn during weekend fires in Shawnee

As wildfires flared all over the state Saturday, a swift-moving grass fire that started in the area of Interstate 40 and U.S. 177 in Shawnee grew and burned more than 500 acres and destroyed two structures while another grass fire

thereatened a horse barn at St. Gregory's University.

Shawnee Fire Capt. Tony Wittman said crews on 12 grass rigs, four

tankers and one engine battled the largest grass fire that was reported

about 12:30 p.m. on the north side of westbound I-40 and mile marker

182.

Crews had about a four-minute response time, Wittman said, but the fire

spread fast.

"It grew quick - our trucks couldn't keep up with it," he said, adding

the flames moved extremely fast across fields of trees and brush.

Two structures, including some type of outbuilding and a barn, were

destroyed, he said, as nearly 10 homes in the area were threatened by

that blaze.

Firefighters from Shawnee, Bethel Acres, Tecumseh, McLoud, Earlsboro

and Meeker joined forces and converged on the area to divert flames

around those homes, Wittman said. Wittman said crews did a great job and  were able to save the homes, although some did sustain

slight heat damage.

As intense smoke from the fire filled the area, several livestock in

the path of the fire had to be set free during that blaze, Wittman said, and there were reports of tractors lost to the fire.

It took crews several hours to get that fire under control, he said,

and fire crews were still out hitting hot spots by late evening in that

area.

Wittman conservatively estimated that about 500 acres burned, but said

since parts of two land sections were involved, it could have been

closer to 600 acres.

The fire occurred in sections from I-40 to Westech road between Acme

and Coker roads and also from Coker

to U.S. 177, he said, with crews stopping the fire before it went past

Westech Road.

In addition to Shawnee crews on duty, Wittman said 12 off-duty Shawnee

firefighters returned to work Saturday to assist with coverage.

As crews battled that blaze, portions of both Westech and Coker Roads

were shut down to traffic, Wittman said.

Cause of what sparked that blaze was unknown, Wittman said.

Wittman praised the American Red Cross volunteers on scene who

provided water and essentials to fire crews. But it was the area

residents that firefighters also appreciated, Wittman said, as many

of those homeowners brought water and icy wet towels from their homes

to fire crews to help them cool off while battling the fire.

"They probably don't know how much we appreciate that," Wittman said.

That type of community help also occurred Saturday afternoon when

another grass fire flared near St. Gregory's

University.

Shawnee Fire Chief David Short said that  grass fire occurred on the

southwest side of the campus and burned mostly cedar trees and grass in

about 5 acres, although that wildfire did threaten a barn where horses from a

therapy program are housed. Luckily no damage was reported.

"The guys made a great stop on the fire," the chief said.

The wildfire came within about 15 feet of that structure. Short said

fire crews have no idea was sparked that blaze.

McLoud and Bethel Acres firefighters assisted Shawnee crews in getting

that blaze quickly under control.

The American Red Cross also was on the scene providing water for fire

crews, but Short said others from the community also were there to help and

offer firefighters water and anything else they might need.

"There were so many gracious people that helped," the chief said.

With devastating fires all around central Oklahoma, from Cleveland

County to Luther, Short said crews are helping each other as they can.

When Earlsboro had a large fire a week ago, Cleveland County sent a

task force to help.

Friday night, as areas near Norman battled blazes that consumed homes,

Short said he sent a crew of Shawnee firefighters to that area to help.

While fires continued to burn all over the state Saturday, Oklahoma

emergency management officials reported that more than 52,000 acres had

burned in the state since Friday. Most of them were reported in Creek

County, but thousands of acres burned in the Luther and Cleveland

County fires.

In Lincoln County Saturday, some evacuations were ordered in areas

north of Stroud, where a wildfire jumped SH 99 near County Road 740. As

of mid-evening, there appeared to be no reports of any structures

burned in that fire, although an evacuation center was set up in

Cushing.

With dry conditions, the entire state remains under a Governor's burn

ban. Gov. Mary Fallin is  encouraging all Oklahomans to be cautious

of the severe conditions.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management also reminds everyone

that wildfires can easily be sparked and are encouraging to be careful

when pulling off a road as hot catalytic converters can ignite vegetation.

And for those who smoke in their vehicles, officials ask everyone to

extinguish cigarettes in vehicle ashtrays and to never toss a cigarette

out of a car window or put one out on the ground.