High winds blamed in western wildfire
High winds blamed in wildfire near Gotebo
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From staff reports
Published: June 5, 2008
GOTEBO — At 2:27 p.m., the National Weather Service received a report that Gotebo was being evacuated due to a large wildfire that was threatening the town.
A fire was apparently burning much of the small southwestern Oklahoma town. Jack Carson, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said a rural fire coordinator was dispatched to the fire that is believed to have been caused by power lines toppled by high winds.
State fire crews were standing by and ready to go to Gotebo, a Kiowa County town with about 270 residents.
Local officials and emergency responders gave out little information, saying they were too busy with the fire to give updates. A release given to the National Weather Service indicated that a large fire was burning out of control and moving north into town. The latest reports indicated the fire was located along Main Street and emergency officials were working to evacuate the town.
The Oklahoma Panhandle was under a red flag warning this afternoon. A burn ban remains in place in Texas and Cimarron counties.
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