Southeast Oklahoma City Fire Burns Homes and Barns

Havonnah Johnson, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Fire officials say a lawnmower sparked a fire in southeast Oklahoma City off of S.E. 59th street and Westminster.

It started about 3 p.m. and burned more than two miles shutting down Interstate 40 east from Douglas to Air Depot past Tinker.

Stuck in traffic, Mary and Charles Barry worried they would run out of gas and their groceries would spoil.

"We have a quarter of a tank. We may have to turn around and go get some gas," Barry said.

Motorists got out of their cars, turned off their engines and sat on the interstate and waited for it to open up.

Homeowners on S.E. 49th were forced to evacuate.

Kathleen and Phil Moss allowed firefighters in their backyard to create a fire line. Brush burned while fire inched closer to their home by the minute.  While the Chinook dumped water overhead, an abandoned home and barn burned nearby.  Fire consumed brush and got feet from the Moss' home.

"We have been here 30 years and we are not going to let a fire put us out," Kathleen said. Meanwhile her husband soaked the roof and ground and helped firefighters battle the blaze.

No injuries were reported, five barns, an abandoned home and a mobile home were destroyed.