Oklahoma Wildfire News

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ANTLERS, Okla. (AP) - A forest fire that has been burning for
nearly three days has consumed more than 2,000 acres of woods in
southeastern Oklahoma.
Officials said the fire in remote Pushmataha County is about 70
percent contained, with no structure damage reported.
"They thought they had put the fire out," said Jack Carson,
spokesman for the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department.
"But then a strong wind came up and started it all over again."
An estimated 30 firefighters were on the scene from the Forestry
Department and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The blaze is located about 12 miles north of Antlers on a pine
plantation owned by Plum Creek Timber Co., Carson said.
Four other fires involving a combined 200 acres also were
reported Monday in Latimer County between Wilburton and Talihina.
Arson is believed to be the cause of those fires, according to
the Forestry Department.
Forestry investigator John Burwell said the fire north of
Antlers was started when a farm implement hit a rock and caused
sparks.
"The fire was probably started when they were preparing a site
for planting seedlings and a ripper hit a rock," Burwell said.
"This points out the high fire danger we are facing and
underscores the need for everyone to take extreme precautions when
outdoors."
Hot and dry conditions have increased the risk for fires. All
but 19 eastern Oklahoma counties are under a red flag alert for
burning.
Pushmataha was not one of those counties.
No county has been placed under a burn ban yet, although
temperatures continue to soar throughout the state.
"If we don't get some precipitation on the ground soon, I think
we'll see these red flag alerts upgraded to a burn ban," Carson
said.
"This obviously points out the danger of people even using a
mower or brush hog outdoors. People need to be extremely
cautious."

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Military Department provides helicopter for wildfire air support

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Military Department is
providing a Blackhawk helicopter to help local officials battle
wildfires across the state.
Officials say drought conditions, occasional lightning strikes
and arsonist attacks have led to a recent increase in wildfires in
Oklahoma, especially in southeastern Oklahoma.
The aircraft will arrive today at the Oklahoma Department of
Agriculture, Food and Forestry's Broken Bow headquarters.
The helicopter will assist ground crews by dumping water from a
660-gallon bucket.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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DAVIS, Okla. (AP) - A massive wildfire in southern Oklahoma
produced clouds of thick smoke Thursday, forcing authorities to
close 15-mile sections of Interstate 35 and a parallel highway,
U.S. 77, near the Arbuckle Mountains.
Officials estimated the fire in the sparsely populated area had
burned more than 100 acres in about six hours. More than 15 fire
departments in the area battled the blaze. Firefighting helicopters
also dumped water on the flames.
The blaze started at 11:15 a.m. and eventually crossed the
interstate, Carter County emergency management officials said.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Kera Philippi said I-35 was closed
at 1 p.m. It remained closed until about 10 p.m., authorities said.
Authorities diverted traffic 20 miles east to U.S. 177, which
was congested with heavy traffic. There were no immediate reports
of injuries or damage.
Mark Davis, 22, of Peoria, Ill., was driving to the school he
attends in Texas when he encountered the detour.
"I've never seen this much smoke before," Davis said.
The student worried that he might get lost. "I guess I will
just find someone with Texas plates and try to follow them through
all this mess," Davis said.
Belinda Diamond, 53, rushed home from work to gather pictures,
clothes, legal documents and her dog. Diamond, who lives west of
the interstate near the Arbuckle Wilderness south of Davis, said
the fire was just 50 yards from her house when she left.
"I was raised on that hill where my house is," she said.
Diamond said the area had experienced wildfires before,
including one a couple of years ago that forced her to evacuate.
"But I've never seen a fire like this," Diamond said.
Firefighters were also battling two smaller wildfires in Katie
and near State Highway 53, five miles west of I-35.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)