Oklahoma Firefighters Battle Blazes During Heat Wave

(TNS) – Flames blazed and sirens blared Tuesday and Wednesday, and at least 14 agencies responded to various fires as record-breaking temperatures settled into Stephens County .

Highs hit 111 in Duncan Tuesday. Meanwhile, fires broke out in Empire as a garbage truck went up in flames. Shortly after, another burned bright near Clear Creek Lake , which resulted in home evacuations.

On Wednesday, fires continued as temperatures hit 107. A grass fire took out multiple structures in Meridian and fresh flames at Clear Creek’s location reignited.

An excessive heat warning and humidity, along with 73% of the state suffering drought conditions, kept flames fighting their extinguishers and smoke clouds billowing in the face of a burn ban in Stephens County .

Trash truck goes up in Empire

Beginning a long two day stint for fire crews, a garbage truck, completely engulfed in flames, met its destruction Tuesday morning.

Empire Fire Department (EFD) responded to call of a vehicle fire around 11 a.m. on July 19 at Terry and Empire Road in Empire.

Upon arrival, EFD found a Gill’s Container Service garbage truck consumed in flames.

EFD called Meridian Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) for assistance when the trash truck fire ignited a grass fire and spread to a nearby field. The fire crews worked to put out the flames for several hours, before ultimately extinguishing it later that afternoon.

By the end of it, Comanche , Corum and Duncan departments were also providing mutual aid.

No structures were impacted, and there were no reported injuries.

As of press time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. More information will release as it becomes available.

Fire by lake causes evacuations

Meanwhile, a fire sparked near Clear Creek Lake . Crews dismissed from Empire’s fire immediately switched directions to head to the area which would stay active for two days because of hot spots.

The flames ignited at Clear Creek and Parker Road , and by 4 p.m. had called for 14 different agencies to tag in to battle the blaze. Duncan Fire responded to the scene first and as it grew, Emergency Management ordered evacuations for some houses near Lawler Road and other units showed up to render mutual aid.

Stephens County Emergency Manager Gary Curtis , who was heading back from a meeting and the truck fire out in Empire, went back to the office to grab a drone to survey the fire to help Duncan response crews.

“The first detail I have is it started over by Clear Creek Road on Parker Road … and I was on my way back from Okarche ,” Curtis said. “I went ahead and got the drone and headed back out here and by that time, they called another tanker and then I knew Duncan was on site, Bray was on site, Marlow was on site and Oakridge was on site too.”

Curtis said even though the fire hit mop up stages Tuesday night, departments continued to fight through some of the hot spots in the trees.

“No homes or anything have been lost,” Curtis said. “They kept it away from the homes by protecting them.”

Despite air asset requests Tuesday evening, Curtis said they managed to fight the fire down without them.

“Our response has been fantastic,” Curtis said. “We already had a call to set up a task force group to travel everywhere else. We had three trucks ready to go. When this fired up they pulled all the different teams together.”

Duncan Fire Department along with units from Velma , Bray , Doyle, Meridian , Grady County Fire, Rush Springs , Bailey, Oakridge, Empire, Stephens County District 1 Tanker, Cox City, Comanche , Stephens County Sheriff’s Office , Duncan Police and Survival Flight were all on the scene. Some crews remained on scene until 11 p.m. Tuesday .

As of Wednesday afternoon, hot spots rekindled. Crews returned to the area after battling a blaze in Meridian and remained on scene as of press time. More information will release as it becomes available.

Structures downed in Meridian fire

Another fire broke out Wednesday in Meridian , this time taking structures down.

Meridian Volunteer Fire Department (MFVD) responded to a large structure and grass fire around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at Twin Valley Road off of Old Highway 81 in Meridian . Fire crews from Comanche , Oakridge, Velma , Empire, Loco , Duncan, Central, Rush Springs and Bray as well as the Jefferson County Task Force and Survival Flight later responded to the scene.

As of press time Wednesday, crews remained at the scene of the blaze, which, according to Curtis, reportedly overcame one home, two previously fire damaged homes and six other structures ranging from barns to storage buildings, to his best count.

Crews were in mop up by this time, according to Crystal Childers with MVFD.

“We are extremely grateful to the community for the outpouring of drinks and shelter to all the responding firefighters,” Childers said. “Bob’s Eatery, Hollie’s Sweets and More, Ray of Hope and Providence Church opened their doors to us.”

According to Childers, the fire remains under investigation.

Burn ban continues in Stephens County

Stephens County remains in a burn ban until July 24 , unless the resolution is extended or canceled by Stephens County Commissioners.

The burn ban includes some exemptions, such as for equipment related to road construction projects; welding, cutting torch and grinding activities; campers and outdoor cooking.

Violation of the burn ban can result in a misdemeanor and a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment for a year or both a fine and imprisonment.

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ö2022 The Duncan Banner (Duncan, Okla.)
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