Firefighters Extinguish Two Grass Fires Threatening Structures

Large grass fires burned in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area Monday, including one near Harrah that authorities said damaged at least two structures.

Monday, November 29th 2010, 2:36 pm

By: News 9


Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Large grass fires burned in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area Monday, including one near Harrah that authorities said damaged at least two structures.

Jennifer Dawson, the assistant emergency manager for Pottawatomie County, said the fire was located near the intersection of Reno Avenue and Pottawatomie County Road. Massive black plumes of smoke covered the afternoon sky Monday.

Tires and abandoned vehicles in some sort of private junk yard near Harrah was ground zero for the fire.

At least two homes burned. Both were empty but the fire came too close to the others.

Residents living in Pottawottamie County and eastern Oklahoma County said they feared the worse. Too often flames danced near homes that were occupied and ignited concern from those living nearby.

Chuck Chronister said the blaze blackened the sky near his son's neighborhood.

"Fortunately the wind is out of the west. It'd have to come south if it gets in there where my son lives. Hopefully they'll get it contained," Chronister said.

 Fire crews were still putting out hot spots Monday night.

In Oklahoma City, firefighters mopped up the remnants of a blaze that started about 1:15 p.m. and scorched between 25 and 30 acres near the intersection of Reno and Martin Luther King Boulevard. Fire departments from Choctaw, Newalla and McLoud assisted in putting out the flames.

Deputy Fire Chief Cecil Clay said Reno was briefly closed due to smoke. He said there are no reports of structural damage, but flames spread close to an Econo Lodge in the area.

According to SkyNews 9 HD pilot Mason Dunn, winds reached about 25-30 mph out of the north, northwest. The strong winds and low levels of humidity are carrying the smoke farther south.

No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters said they are warning residents against throwing out cigarette butts, working with open flames, or parking cars over dry grass because all can spark grass fires.

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