Oklahoma City Fire Department releases 911 calls for Aug. 30 grass fire
Fear is heard as first people report huge Oklahoma City fire.
The fear generated by Oklahoma City's largest grass fire in years can be heard quite clearly in the voices of the first people who called 911 and warned emergency dispatchers of the fast-moving blaze.
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“It looks like something exploded on it,” one caller said. “A pumper truck could put it out if it got here right now. Please hurry. I've got cows, baby calves.”
The fire began Aug. 30 just south of NE 50 and Sooner Road and 25 mph winds pushed it quickly to the north. More than two dozen homes were destroyed, whole neighborhoods were evacuated, but nobody was injured seriously. The Oklahoma City Fire Department released 911 tapes this week.
“The fire is rapidly approaching our building, and I haven't heard any sirens yet or anything. What's the status?” asked a woman who called from the Cedar Ridge psychiatric hospital on NE 50.
Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant said Friday that two fire stations relatively close to the fire mounted a quick response, but the winds were so strong and the grass and brush so dry that there was no way to stop it quickly. Those stations have a response time to the fire location of five to seven minutes.
One man who called 911 was concerned about a neighbor, saying her home was in the path of the fire and he couldn't reach her by telephone.
“Oh, Lord, it's getting out of hand,” he said.
Another woman called in, trying to get an idea of which way the fire was moving.
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