Firestorm forces Gotebo evacuation

Associated Press

GOTEBO, Okla. -- A fire threatened the Kiowa County town of Gotebo for a time Thursday, destroyed two residences and forced officials to evacuate residents from the small community, officials said.

There were no reports of injuries.

By Thursday evening, the fire was 70 percent contained, said State Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten.

Initial reports indicated a wind-blown fire was moving through fields and threatening the town. About 60 homes were evacuated by police officers going door to door, Ooten said.

Fire departments from Gotebo, Sudan, Mountain View and Rocky were fighting the blaze.

Gotebo is a town of about 270 residents in northeastern Kiowa County, about 120 miles west of Oklahoma City.