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August 6, 2012

VIDEO: Weekend fire rages on southeastern outskirts of county

Jessica Lane, Staff Writer, jlane@chickashanews.com The Express-Star

NINNEKAH —

The cloud of smoke that many Grady County residents saw in the sky on Friday afternoon came from a large grass fire located southeast of Ninnekah, Paulette Nicholas, Grady County Emergency Management Deputy, said at Monday's regular Grady County Commissioner's meeting.  

The fire, which started around 2 p.m. on Aug. 3 started west of County Road 2870 on County Road 1470 and burned almost 10,000 acres of land.

Over 100 firefighters from Grady, Stephens and McClain County spent more than 36 hours fighting the fire and keeping the area under observation, according to Dale Thompson, Grady County Emergency Management Director.

Two structures were lost, including the home of Max and Barbara Thomas, Nicholas said. Some Ninnekah residents took shelter at the Ninnekah School cafeteria until Saturday afternoon. Necessities such as bottled water, Gatorade and food were donated to residents and firefighters in need, Thompson said.

The dry climate will keep Grady County and Oklahoma, currently under a statewide burn ban, under threat for future disasters.

"Until we get some rain, this will remain a risk," Nicholas said.

A few precautions that can be taken by Grady County residents, such as keeping lawns mowed and brush cut back.

"If you're not going to water, mow it short and keep it that way," Nicholas said.

Accoring to Nicholas, the approximate cost of the fire was over $15,000, using FEMA cost figures, which does not include repair cost to vehicles or fuel cost. Several fire trucks are in need of repair.

However, Nicholas said that the fire could have been worse.

"We could have lost more houses than we did. When you look at the total amount of damage, we're pretty lucky."

Over 78,000 acres have burned across the state since Friday, Nicholas said.

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