ANTLERS, Okla. (AP) - A forest fire that has been burning for
nearly three days has consumed more than 2,000 acres of woods in
southeastern Oklahoma.
Officials said the fire in remote Pushmataha County is about 70
percent contained, with no structure damage reported.
"They thought they had put the fire out," said Jack Carson,
spokesman for the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department.
"But then a strong wind came up and started it all over again."
An estimated 30 firefighters were on the scene from the Forestry
Department and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The blaze is located about 12 miles north of Antlers on a pine
plantation owned by Plum Creek Timber Co., Carson said.
Four other fires involving a combined 200 acres also were
reported Monday in Latimer County between Wilburton and Talihina.
Arson is believed to be the cause of those fires, according to
the Forestry Department.
Forestry investigator John Burwell said the fire north of
Antlers was started when a farm implement hit a rock and caused
sparks.
"The fire was probably started when they were preparing a site
for planting seedlings and a ripper hit a rock," Burwell said.
"This points out the high fire danger we are facing and
underscores the need for everyone to take extreme precautions when
outdoors."
Hot and dry conditions have increased the risk for fires. All
but 19 eastern Oklahoma counties are under a red flag alert for
burning.
Pushmataha was not one of those counties.
No county has been placed under a burn ban yet, although
temperatures continue to soar throughout the state.
"If we don't get some precipitation on the ground soon, I think
we'll see these red flag alerts upgraded to a burn ban," Carson
said.
"This obviously points out the danger of people even using a
mower or brush hog outdoors. People need to be extremely
cautious."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
nearly three days has consumed more than 2,000 acres of woods in
southeastern Oklahoma.
Officials said the fire in remote Pushmataha County is about 70
percent contained, with no structure damage reported.
"They thought they had put the fire out," said Jack Carson,
spokesman for the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department.
"But then a strong wind came up and started it all over again."
An estimated 30 firefighters were on the scene from the Forestry
Department and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The blaze is located about 12 miles north of Antlers on a pine
plantation owned by Plum Creek Timber Co., Carson said.
Four other fires involving a combined 200 acres also were
reported Monday in Latimer County between Wilburton and Talihina.
Arson is believed to be the cause of those fires, according to
the Forestry Department.
Forestry investigator John Burwell said the fire north of
Antlers was started when a farm implement hit a rock and caused
sparks.
"The fire was probably started when they were preparing a site
for planting seedlings and a ripper hit a rock," Burwell said.
"This points out the high fire danger we are facing and
underscores the need for everyone to take extreme precautions when
outdoors."
Hot and dry conditions have increased the risk for fires. All
but 19 eastern Oklahoma counties are under a red flag alert for
burning.
Pushmataha was not one of those counties.
No county has been placed under a burn ban yet, although
temperatures continue to soar throughout the state.
"If we don't get some precipitation on the ground soon, I think
we'll see these red flag alerts upgraded to a burn ban," Carson
said.
"This obviously points out the danger of people even using a
mower or brush hog outdoors. People need to be extremely
cautious."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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