Church campers in Oklahoma displaced by Kiowa County wildfire

Children who were evacuated Wednesday from the Quartz Mountain Christian Camp were to be picked up by their parents Thursday at the Church of Christ in Hobart, where they spent the night.

The wildfire prompted the evacuation of about 400 people from two church camps to emergency shelters in Hobart on Wednesday, the Red Cross reported. The campers were south of Lone Wolf, and the wildfire was primarily in the King's Mountain area of Quartz Mountain State Park.

Kiowa County Emergency Manager Bill Orebaugh said Thursday night crews were putting out hot spots. State Highway 44 was reopened Thursday evening. Crews had been using it as a landing area for a helicopter used to help fight the blaze.

Red Cross spokesman Rusty Surette said some of the campers were not immediately able to return to camp to retrieve personal belongings. The Quartz Mountain Christian Camp was to end Friday.

Families who had been attending the Southwest Baptist Assembly Camp were evacuated to Hobart First Baptist Church. Nearly 200 people from churches in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma had been attending the camp, which was to end Saturday.

Officials said the fire was caused by a lightning strike Sunday.