NBC News – by Alexander SmithThousands of people fled a deadly wildfire burning across 4,000 acres in Oklahoma, officials said early Monday.
Some 30 fire departments battled the blaze overnight.
A 56-year-old man died after he chose not to evacuate his home near Guthrie, Okla., the city’s Fire Chief Eric Harlow said.
Harlow told NBC News late Sunday that the fire was 50 percent contained but that it had impacted more than 6,000 people.
Six occupied houses were consumed by the fire, as well as around 15 abandoned buildings. Several other people had to be treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, according to Harlow.
Oklahoma Forestry Services said it had dispatched specialist wildfire teams to the scene, backed up by bulldozers, fire engines and aircraft. These were due to arrive in the morning.
Harlow told a press conference at 10 p.m. Sunday (9 p.m. ET) that he was “hopeful that [the firefighters] would have a handle on the fire overnight.”
KFORThe fire was the worst of several burning in the state, caused by temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit and strong winds.
“It’s a very large fire and we’re trying to get it contained,” Guthrie Fire Captain Dale Haggard told Reuters.
It was not yet clear what started the fire Sunday, but Harlow told the press conference: “Whoever is responsible for the fire is financially responsible for the damages.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
– Alexander Smith
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oklahoma-wildfires-turn-deadly-destroy-homes-n96981
i live in okie
, all we got to burn is grass so if a fire coming your way go out and burn your grass which should be 2 or 3 inch’s tall if you keep your yard up.