Western Oklahoma town evacuated during uncontrolled grass fire
Western Oklahoma town evacuated during uncontrolled grass fire
20 March 2008
published by www.tulsaworld.com
USA — Residents in this Woodward County town were asked to leave their homes Thursday evening as firefighters struggled to contain a large wildfire in the area.
The Woodward City-County Emergency Management Office requested that people take a western route out of the town as the blaze raged uncontrolled from the south.
U.S. 412 in the area was closed at 6:15 p.m. about 10 miles east of Mooreland. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the wildfire crossed the highway and burned toward the town.
Westbound traffic was rerouted onto U.S. 281.
Woodward County Emergency Manager Matt Lehenbauer said flames were seen at some railroad tracks on the south side of Quinlan.
The National Weather Service has issued a fire emergency for Woodward County, where sustained winds were clocked at 30 mph, with gusts nearing 40 mph.
