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Grass Fires Char Homes in Oklahoma, Texas

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By TIM TALLEY

MUSTANG, Okla. - Fires fueled by dry brush and driven by gusty wind damaged several homes in Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday. Several firefighters and residents suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

In Oklahoma, the biggest fire burned at least 400 acres in a rural area near the town of Mustang, southwest of Oklahoma City.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said dozens of fires, mostly in north and central parts of his state, prompted him to deploy firefighters and issue a disaster declaration.

"It's like trying to stop a 30-mph car coming down the street," Texas Deputy Fire Marshal Keith Ebel said. "The wind is the worst enemy right now."

TV station helicopter footage showed at least a half-dozen structures were burned in Mustang, but conditions appeared to improve by late afternoon, when fire crews brought the flames under control.

"We've still got some hot spots that we're concerned about," Mustang Police Chief Monte James said.

He said firefighters battled flames at four houses and sheds. One firefighter was being treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.

After the flames passed, residents emerged and were "watering their yards and standing in their yards," said Harold Percival, who lives about a mile from the Mustang fire.

"What can you do about it," Pat Hankins, 62, said as he watched his one-story home burn. "You have no control."

Hankins' friend Maria Vantour-Smith said flames hopscotched around Hankins' property before reaching his home.

"It just kept jumping. I've never seen anything like it," she said. They were able to remove a few antiques and other items from the home before it was gutted.

Several other grass fires were brought under control in three areas of Oklahoma City. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion, and a child suffered minor burns on his hands when a shed caught fire.

That blaze was apparently started by children playing with fireworks, Oklahoma City Fire Maj. Brian Stanaland said.

"We've had warm temperatures, no moisture, low humidity and winds, so any little spark and man it just goes," Stanaland said.

Fire burned across Bryan County in southeastern Oklahoma. The most severe destroyed at least three structures near Achille and resulted in an unknown amount of injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation, said Tim Cooke, the county's emergency management director.

"Our entire county is just about on fire," said "It's everywhere."

Smoke from other grass fires reduced visibility along Interstate 35, forcing officials to close a stretch of the highway in southern Oklahoma near the Texas line.

The wind in Oklahoma was clocked at 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

In Texas, Fort Worth Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said crews had fought nine brush fires during the first half of the day and he expected more. His department also helped battle a blaze in nearby Kennedale. The Dallas Morning News reported that flames in Kennedale threatened two apartment complexes.

Three Arlington firefighters were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, said Battalion Chief David Stapp. The fires there threatened new housing developments and apartments.

In Hood County, a fire near Canyon Creek forced at least 100 people to evacuate, said Chief Deputy Jerry Lind. He said several structures were on fire, and propane tanks had exploded.

"We've got fires burning structures in several counties," said Tracy Weaver of the Texas Forest Service. "It is just critically, critically dry out there right now."

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Associated Press writer Matt Curry in Kennedale, Texas, contributed this report.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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