Massive fires broke out on Tuesday across the Texas Panhandle and several Oklahoma counties that border the state. Because of the chaos, multiple communities and two states plagued by the fire, it is still unclear how many acres burned. The highest report that this reporter has seen as of 10 pm on Wednesday was approximately 850,000 acres, but that official was clear that it really cannot be known. The cause of the fire or fires is also not yet known. One report indicated thirteen homes were burned on the Oklahoma side, but again, that number is not confirmed. The number of confi rmed homes on the Texas side will be larger, but no numbers are coming out of that.
At least 50 head of cattle throughout two counties have been confirmed by this reporter, but the total number is expected to be much higher and will be difficult to total.
What can be confirmed, though, is every single Beckham County fire department sent firefighters, equipment and resources. Several have remained on the fire well into Wednesday evening to extinguish potential hot spots in hopes of preventing further destruction.
Elk City hotels were at or near capacity from people forced to evacuate from Roger Mills, Ellis, and Dewey counties on the Oklahoma side and bordering counties on the Texas side.
Roger Mills County Sheriff Bryan Smith said, “We were blessed it cooled off and the humidity got higher as it came into Oklahoma, or it would have been worse here. I had deputies who were off work but came out and stayed. We literally had to send them home. We want to thank all the Beckham County folks and those who came from other counties who came out and helped. That is the way it works out here, though. When they are in need, our fire departments and officers come running and they do the same for us.”
Sheriff Smith also discussed the cost to these agencies to contain such a fire, many of whom are volunteers, “We all know the cost of everything is double or triple what it was a few years ago,” Smith said. “I have no idea what the fuel bill will be, but it is not gonna be small.”
Oklahoma officials were able to get to a woman who was burned in the fire on the Texas side Texas officials could not get to her due to the fire. Smith said she was badly burned, but was at least alive when she arrived in Oklahoma City.
Drought conditions are ripe for more wildfi res. Officials encourage residents not to drag chains, throw out stray cigarettes, or engage in other fire hazards.
