Oklahoma town told to evacuate because of wildfires

FORT SUPPLY, Okla. (KFOR) – An complete town was told to evacuate as a wall of fast-moving flames got here dangerously shut. Now, folks in Fort Supply are respiration a sigh of reduction, all thanks to the heroic firefighters who saved numerous properties.

“I bet there was probably 150, 200 firefighters out here. Plus, county hands and just local farmers, ranchers bringing water,” mentioned Buffalo Fire Chief Steve Wilson.

“It’s overwhelming because those guys put their lives up to save our, you know, livelihood,” mentioned Jane Ricord, whose house was nearly destroyed by the flames.

Forty totally different hearth departments from neighboring counties and states homed in on an enormous hearth close to Fort Supply Thursday afternoon. The destruction spanned about 2,000 acres.

“We got the call that the fire was coming and was real close to the house. We would probably lose it,” mentioned Ricord.

Some of Ricord’s land was destroyed by the North Canadian hearth. She was out of town when she bought the decision that her house was within the line of hearth.

“I had a cousin that was here. He got on the skid steer. Kept the ground worked up, kept water going on the fire and stuff. And he pretty much stopped [the fire] right here,” she mentioned.

Wilson mentioned the large issues have been the canyons and cedar bushes.

“They’ll just explode and they can throw fire and ash for miles,” mentioned Wilson.

The panhandle’s panorama is made of rocky terrain, which meant the firefighters had a tough time getting in to assault the flames. That’s why they’d to assault the blaze from the sky.

Helicopters, offered by the forestry service, dumped 800 gallons onto the new spots.

However, the canyons proved to be a curse and a blessing, by containing the fireplace and serving to save the small town of Fort Supply, the place residents have been told to evacuate earlier within the day.

“If they did cross the canyon, we would have been in trouble,” mentioned Wilson.

The hearth was contained round 2:30 p.m., however Wilson mentioned the story would’ve ended otherwise a decade in the past.

“Ten years ago, this would have ran and ran and ran. We would have never caught it. But with the crews, with the equipment, with the support, we can stop it,” he mentioned.

Ricord’s simply grateful everyone seems to be secure.

“Animals are all accounted for,” mentioned Ricord. “If the rain comes, we’re going to have a green pasture.”

The hearth chief mentioned they are going to be out all night time watching for warm spots. They’ll have to maintain a detailed eye on all the space for a few week.