Luther, --
Okla. - Residents sifting through charred belongings found little that was salvageable Saturday after a roaring wildfire that may have been deliberately set swept across the dry Oklahoma landscape.
The fire destroyed almost five dozen homes and other structures in and around Luther before firefighters were able to gain some control overnight. Daybreak Saturday revealed a broad path of destruction over 4 square miles.
The fire was one of several burning Saturday in Oklahoma, where a severe drought has parched the landscape. They include a large blaze in Creek County, in northeastern Oklahoma, that officials said had claimed about 78 square miles, and another about 35 miles to the west in Payne County. Emergency management officials ordered residents of the towns of Mannford and Glencoe to evacuate, according to Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain.
Authorities suspect the Luther fire may have been intentionally set. The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said it was searching for someone in a black pickup truck who was seen throwing newspapers out a window after setting them ablaze.
Spokeswoman Mary Myers said there were no arrests and no suspects have been identified.
Gov. Mary Fallin toured Luther, hugging residents whose homes and belongings were destroyed by the fire that swept through treetops on 24 mph winds.
"It's heartbreaking to see families that have lost so much," Fallin said after talking with some who were milling around the still-smoking debris that had been their homes.
Douglas and Rebecca Kolar spoke with their insurance agent in front of the remains of their home. Rebecca Kolar saw footage of it burning the night before on television.
"They thought the fire was going behind" the neighborhood, she said. "And then the wind shifted, and it was too quick. We couldn't do anything."
She said she was able to gather her children, three dogs and some family photos before her house and six others on the street caught fire and burned.
The summer in Oklahoma is shaping up to be much like last year's, with little rainfall, low humidity and temperatures exceeding 110 degrees in many locations. The Oklahoma Forestry Commission said that means it also could be another bad year for wildfires.
"I think it's going to be right up there (as among the worst) in memories, at least," said Michelle Finch-Walker, an agency spokeswoman. She predicted the number of wildfires could end up being similar to last year, when the agency fought about 1,800 blazes.
Okla. - Residents sifting through charred belongings found little that was salvageable Saturday after a roaring wildfire that may have been deliberately set swept across the dry Oklahoma landscape.
The fire destroyed almost five dozen homes and other structures in and around Luther before firefighters were able to gain some control overnight. Daybreak Saturday revealed a broad path of destruction over 4 square miles.
The fire was one of several burning Saturday in Oklahoma, where a severe drought has parched the landscape. They include a large blaze in Creek County, in northeastern Oklahoma, that officials said had claimed about 78 square miles, and another about 35 miles to the west in Payne County. Emergency management officials ordered residents of the towns of Mannford and Glencoe to evacuate, according to Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain.
Authorities suspect the Luther fire may have been intentionally set. The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said it was searching for someone in a black pickup truck who was seen throwing newspapers out a window after setting them ablaze.
Spokeswoman Mary Myers said there were no arrests and no suspects have been identified.
Gov. Mary Fallin toured Luther, hugging residents whose homes and belongings were destroyed by the fire that swept through treetops on 24 mph winds.
"It's heartbreaking to see families that have lost so much," Fallin said after talking with some who were milling around the still-smoking debris that had been their homes.
Douglas and Rebecca Kolar spoke with their insurance agent in front of the remains of their home. Rebecca Kolar saw footage of it burning the night before on television.
"They thought the fire was going behind" the neighborhood, she said. "And then the wind shifted, and it was too quick. We couldn't do anything."
She said she was able to gather her children, three dogs and some family photos before her house and six others on the street caught fire and burned.
The summer in Oklahoma is shaping up to be much like last year's, with little rainfall, low humidity and temperatures exceeding 110 degrees in many locations. The Oklahoma Forestry Commission said that means it also could be another bad year for wildfires.
"I think it's going to be right up there (as among the worst) in memories, at least," said Michelle Finch-Walker, an agency spokeswoman. She predicted the number of wildfires could end up being similar to last year, when the agency fought about 1,800 blazes.