Large Grassfire Threatened Homes In Northeast OKC

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Firefighters battled a large grassfire in northeast Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon.

Oklahoma City Fire Chief Kirk Wright said the blaze was reported at about 1 p.m. and may have started from a burn pile near N.E. 36th Street and Bartell Road.

N.E. 36th Street & Bartell Road Grass Fire

The fire spread about a mile north and threatened several structures including at least one mobile home, a house and a horse barn. Fire officials said an old, unoccupied home and several old cars burned in the fire.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in just a couple of hours but were still dealing with hot spots as of 4 p.m.

The Thomas' were fortunate enough to see the grass fire spreading and reacted.

"We turned on the water sprinklers. We tried to water what we could, and we got out of there," said Terry Thomas.

Some of Thomas' neighbors, however, weren't as lucky. The fast moving grassfire caused a lot of concern when flames got dangerously close not only to their homes but to their livestock.

Firefighters were able to stop the flames before the blaze did any more damage to homes or livestock.

"Had it been in line right here, it would have been over with, with all these cedars," said Les Spinner, whose home was threatened by the grass fire.

Firefighters said it was a close call that should serve as a reminder of what can happen when conditions are right.

"This time of year the grass goes dormant becomes dead. You got your  dry weather, humidity is low and the winds you got recipes for big fires," Wright said.

No serious injuries were reported.