Oklahoma City wildfire sends three firefighters to hospital

No homes were lost, but many were threatened in the fire that started near SW 119 and Mustang Road about 2:15 p.m., Oklahoma City fire Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland said.

Firefighters disbanded a command post about 6 a.m. Tuesday after monitoring hot spots and flare-ups overnight. Just 30 minutes later, reports that fire had rekindled were received and crews returned to the 11200 block of S Mustang Road only to find it was dust in the air kicked up by work crews moving debris and trees. Firefighters then left the scene.

Eighty acres burned in the intense firefight that lasted about five hours and spread down to SW 104 and about half a mile on the east and west sides of Mustang Road, Stanaland said. About 40 Oklahoma City firefighters were on the scene as well as crews from nine other departments, he said.

Two Oklahoma City firefighters were taken to hospitals for heat exhaustion, and a third suffered second-degree burns on his hands, Stanaland said.

Some people were evacuated from their homes during the fire, and others weren't allowed home while the blaze was being extinguished, but a precise number wasn't available.

Fire crews had the fire contained by about 6 p.m. but were expected to remain at the scene through the night to hose down any flare-ups and hot spots.