Logan County Residents Survey Grass Fire Damage

More than 24 hours after intense grass fires broke out in several Oklahoma counties, fire crews are still on scene and residents are out surveying the damage.

Monday, January 13th 2014, 7:38 pm

By: News 9


More than 24 hours after intense grass fires broke out in several Oklahoma counties, fire crews are still on scene and residents are out surveying the damage.

There were no heavy flames in Logan County on Monday, but there was a lot of smoke as dozens of hay bales were still burning.

Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow says more than 1300 acres were burned Sunday afternoon.

1/12/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Firefighters Battle Multiple Grass Fires

Hembree Farms has been in Guthrie since the 1970s at County Road 75 and N. Post Road. Farm owner Clayton Hembree says his 240 acres took a big hit in the grass fire.

1/12/2014 Related Story: Structures, Land Destroyed In Logan County Grass Fires

"Overnight, we went from land of plenty to, 'oh what are we going to do now?'" said Hembree. "There was fire 20 feet high in the road and started jumping out and moving fast like 35 miles per hour, the firefighters would come and put it out, and then it would rekindle again, I'm thankful they were able to save my house."

Hembree lost 1200 bales of hay, a well he just built, a tractor and a shed that was still burning.

"I built these pens for my cattle out of wooden posts you know, and they're just all burnt up so well have something to do for a while," he said. "I don't know whether we can salvage some of it or what we'll have to do we're just going to have to wait until it quits burning and we can get in there and see what it needs."

Hembree says he doesn't know how he's going to be able to feed his cattle after losing all his hay. He says he will have to sell some of his calves. Before the fire, he said he had enough hay stored for three years, and now the damage will set him back five years, costing him about $250,000.

Then out of the blue, Hembree says neighbors and community and church members started showing up and dropping off bales of hay.

"The concern and all has just floored me, it's the most humbling thing I've ever been through in my life. How can you be down when you're surrounded with people like that? I think we're going to bounce back alright," Hembree said.

Fire crews are still keeping a close watch on hot spots in Logan county and expect many areas, including Hembree's heaps of hay to be burning for the next few days.

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