Grassfire Destroys 30 Acres Along Interstate 44

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A grassfire destroyed almost 30 acres and shut down part of Interstate 44 Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters battled the fire that started near S.W. 104th Street and spread north. Crews shut down part of I-44 because of thick smoke.

Officials said a person driving through the smoke ran into one of the fire tankers but no one was injured.

The wildfire moved quickly before firefighters could get it under control near the Will Roger World Airport. OKC Battalion Chief Chris Copeland said strong winds played a major factor in the fire spreading to about 30 acres.

"We've kinda had a little bit of a frost that kills the grass. When you have a big frost all the grass is going to die and then it's all going to be very volatile. It will burn very quickly," said Chief Copeland.

At one point, firefighters ordered the Valero service station evacuated at S.W. 89th Street and I-44 and used it as a command station.

Fire investigators are still working to figure out how the fire started. No one was injured.