Grass fires erupt in parched southwest Oklahoma

By The Associated Press

Published: February 14, 2008

FREDERICK, Okla. -- A series of grass fires swept across parched grassland in southwest Oklahoma, including a blaze near Frederick that forced the evacuation of several homes and sent a Frederick firefighter to the hospital.

The firefighter was held overnight after suffering from smoke inhalation but was in good condition Thursday, Frederick Fire Chief Tracy Newman said.

The blaze, fueled by dry vegetation and gusty winds, erupted about 4 p.m. Wednesday in northeast Tillman County and destroyed more than 1,000 acres, Newman said. More than 14 area departments responded to the fire, and firefighters finally got the blaze under control about 10:30 p.m.

Several cattle grazing on pasture land perished in the blaze, but no structures were destroyed, Newman said.

Tillman County is one of 25 Oklahoma counties in the Panhandle and southwest Oklahoma that remains under a burn ban that prohibits any outdoor burning.

"It's been very, very dry and windy," Newman said. "And a fire like that starts creating its own wind."

Newman said the cause of the fire was suspicious in nature and remains under investigation.

Two fires west of Lawton in Comanche County also are being called suspicious, said Comanche County spokesman Chris Killmer.

It took firefighters about two hours to contain the blazes. He said firefighters were mopping up around 3 p.m.

An abandoned house surrounded by what appeared to be construction debris burned to the ground. An outbuilding, boat and doghouse also were destroyed in the fire. Firefighters began hosing the house down and removed a propane tank and riding lawnmower from the area. Piles of shingles continued to smolder on the road leading to the house.

Killmer said several occupied homes were threatened but firefighters were able to protect them. The fire made it within a few feet of one residence.

As the fire west of Lawton died down, firefighters from northern Comanche County went to assist neighboring Caddo and Kiowa counties when a grass fire broke out just before 1:30 p.m.

Kiowa County Emergency Management Director Steve Grayson said 10 fire departments worked more than four hours to contain the burn before any structures were harmed, though three were threatened.

One firefighter suffered minor burns to his face, but he was treated and quickly released from the hospital, Grayson said.

Another fire on Fort Sill's east range that burned several hours Tuesday flared up again Wednesday, but was contained by 3 p.m., a post spokeswoman said.

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