Fires take a deadly turn as dry weather persists

The winds are lower, but firefighters remain on the alert this morning for outbreaks of fire in Pittsburg County.

“We’re trying to keep it down and prevent flare-ups, and hoping people don’t start more fires,” County Emergency Management Director Trent Myers said this morning.

Fires across the state have been blamed for causing one death, destroying dozens of homes and burning more than 30,000 acres.

One man died while fighting a fire several miles north of Holdenville. According to the Associated Press, firefighters battling a fire that burned 10,000 acres Wednesday found the body of 69-year-old Kelly Tiger, who had suffered a heart attack while trying to keep flames from his family’s orchards.

Tiger was found near the small town of Yeager, where eight homes were destroyed, the AP reported.

In the past few days, several people, including firefighters, have sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation and burns, according to officials.

A fire in Seminole County spread across 8,000 acres and destroyed more than two dozen homes. At least 13 homes were destroyed in Mustang and Choctaw.

“We’ve been very fortunate no homes were lost around here,” said Lois Lupardus, Pittsburg County Emergency management employee. “We’re lucky that everyone works together so well to put these fires out.”

Since Dec. 1, at least 2,200 acres have been destroyed in the areas of Haskell, Latimer, eastern Pittsburg and southern LeFlore counties covered by the Oklahoma Forestry Services.

“But that’s only in our coverage area,” said Tony Kitchell, forestry representative, adding many fires occurred before Dec. 1 and “There are a lot of fires burning outside our area.”

For example, one fire near Scipio burned 1,700 acres, Myers said.

Pittsburg County firefighters battled flames in Arpelar, near Ashland Road and near Dow Tuesday. Wednesday evening, the firefighters were busy near Canadian and on a brush fire near Wild Horse Road.

“I think there was one structure burned in Canadian,” Myers said, adding the fire on Wild Horse Road burned an estimated 10 to 15 acres.

Altogether, fires have raged in at least 21 counties in recent days, according to the state Office of Emergency Management.

That prompted Gov. Brad Henry to request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for aid related to fighting fires in at least three counties.

Warm weather, coupled with drought conditions, have increased the chances that fires can rapidly get out of control. Henry issued a burn ban on Nov. 15, making most outdoor burning illegal.