The Oklahoman (Oklahoma)
Copyright 2006 The Oklahoman, All Rights Reserved
Firefighters worked for hours to contain a 120-acre grass fire that raced through parts of north Oklahoma City on Monday.
No injuries were reported from the fire, but two firefighters were treated by paramedics for heat exhaustion, Oklahoma City Fire Chief Tony Young said.
Fire crews largely had contained the fire by 5:30 p.m., Young said, but were making sure the flames didn’t flare back up.
About 80 people were evacuated from the Silverhorn Golf Club near Hefner Road and Kelley Avenue, Young said, but grounds crews stayed and activated sprinkler systems to help firefighters battle the flames. Residents of Summit Ridge Apartments, near the golf course, tried to protect their homes from damage by grabbing garden hoses and spraying down their lawns and roofs.
“We came out, and we could see the smoke and the ash,” said Arick Williams, 22. “The ash was already hitting the house, and that was probably 20 minutes ago. Since then, we’ve come out, and we’re trying to water around the grass, because we live right next to a wide open field.”
The addition, west of the Silverhorn golf course and northwest of the blaze, is made up of apartments and condominiums. The homes are surrounded by overgrown lots to the north, west and south.
Billowing clouds of smoke rose above the addition. Even with 100-plus degree temperatures outside, the heat of the fire easily could be felt.
Leisten Neashire, 27, lives in a condo with a lawn sloping down into a field. The African native and his wife moved in just four days ago. They hosed down as much of the growth as possible, helped by neighbors.
Across the street, Joslyn Town, 25, sat on her porch and smoked as her landlady wielded a hose. Town had moved in less than two months ago, attracted by the seclusion and quiet. Now, her new neighborhood was being overflown by helicopters, and reporters gathered at the golf course about 50 yards away.
“I don’t think it’s going to get here,” she said hopefully. “If it does, there’s nothing you can do but water your lawn. There’s nothing else you can do to prepare.”