MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – Firefighters mopped up hot spots Friday from wind-driven wildfires that injured at least 34 people in western and central Oklahoma and destroyed more than 100 homes.
Fires across the state line in Texas killed at least two people.
The fires began Thursday afternoon along the Interstate 35, the main north-south highway through central Oklahoma. They continued to burn past nightfall, fueled by ferocious winds and an abundance of dry, early spring grass and brush.
"We have in excess of 100 homes that have been destroyed statewide," Emergency Management Director Albert Ashwood said Friday morning.
Interstate 35 was back open Friday after being closed for several hours in various locations because of the fires.
Water-dropping helicopters couldn't assist the ground effort because of winds that gusted to more than 60 mph in some areas on Thursday.
"Anytime you have high winds and low humidity it's just the perfect storm for wildfires, and that's what's happening here," Ashwood said.
In northern Texas, firefighters continued battling blazes that raced across thousands of parched acres Thursday, destroying homes and forcing the temporary evacuations of some small towns.
Fires across the state line in Texas killed at least two people.
The fires began Thursday afternoon along the Interstate 35, the main north-south highway through central Oklahoma. They continued to burn past nightfall, fueled by ferocious winds and an abundance of dry, early spring grass and brush.
"We have in excess of 100 homes that have been destroyed statewide," Emergency Management Director Albert Ashwood said Friday morning.
Interstate 35 was back open Friday after being closed for several hours in various locations because of the fires.
Water-dropping helicopters couldn't assist the ground effort because of winds that gusted to more than 60 mph in some areas on Thursday.
"Anytime you have high winds and low humidity it's just the perfect storm for wildfires, and that's what's happening here," Ashwood said.
In northern Texas, firefighters continued battling blazes that raced across thousands of parched acres Thursday, destroying homes and forcing the temporary evacuations of some small towns.
Source: Yahoo News
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