Benefit to aid Oklahoma City wildfire victim

Lori Turner lost all of her possessions in a wildfire Aug. 30.

BY MATT PATTERSON mpatterson@opubco.com | Published: September 30, 2011 Comment on this article

Leave a comment

Birthday cake and trees don't usually go together, but friends of Lori Turner are hoping they do as Turner prepares to celebrate her 50th birthday.

photo - Her face dirtied from the mixture of sweat and ashes, Lori Turner holds the handle of a rake as she pauses from combing through the charred rubble of her mobile home on her property at 6000 NE 63 Wednesday after wildfires ravaged land and property that stretched from NE 50 on the south to Hefner Road on the north. Turner said she lost everything she had in this fire. "It was my whole life" she sobbed, holding back tears as she described her loss. In addition to large property losses, she also had dogs, kittens chickens and rabbits that were killed in the fire. The fire extended from Sooner Road to Midwest Blvd. Photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

Her face dirtied from the mixture of sweat and ashes, Lori Turner holds the handle of a rake as she pauses from combing through the charred rubble of her mobile home on her property at 6000 NE 63 Wednesday after wildfires ravaged land and property that stretched from NE 50 on the south to Hefner Road on the north. Turner said she lost everything she had in this fire. "It was my whole life" she sobbed, holding back tears as she described her loss. In addition to large property losses, she also had dogs, kittens chickens and rabbits that were killed in the fire. The fire extended from Sooner Road to Midwest Blvd. Photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

Multimedia

Photoview all photos

Article Gallery: Benefit to aid Oklahoma City wildfire victim

Turner lost her home and several pets in an Aug. 30 wildfires. Since then, she's been living in a donated pop-up trailer on the property.

Turner told The Oklahoman earlier this month she inherited the property and had no insurance for her possessions.

“I lost three trailers, 23 vehicles, five boats, a ceramics shop and a horse barn,” Turner said.

From Saturday to Monday, friends of Turner are hosting a benefit during daytime hours. People are invited to stop by Turner's home at 6000 NE 63 for a piece of birthday cake and to bring a tree to plant on her property.

Donations can also be made at MidFirst Bank in Turner's name with identification No. 2861.

Turner's sister, Vicki Fravel, said Turner works as a contractor. She also lost much of her equipment in the fire, but several local businesses have helped replace some of her tools.

“She's getting by, but it's been very difficult for her,” Fravel said.