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Image from: KOCO |
NOBLE, Okla. -- Christopher Carlson sprang into action when smoke and embers ushered a fire that threatened to envelop his Noble, Oklahoma, home.
After taking his 12-year-old stepson to safety, Carlson raced against time to assist neighbors and try to save his trailer from one of more than a dozen wildfires that, as of Saturday, had destroyed more than 120 structures.
"That's what we do in Oklahoma," Carlson told CNN on Saturday from Norman. "We help each other because we are prone to tornadoes, disasters and fires."
Conditions across the state remained critical, state officials said, with high temperatures and winds stoked by a cold front.
The Noble fire in Cleveland County, south of Oklahoma City, affected about 7,800 acres and had destroyed 25 structures -- including homes and outbuildings -- as of Saturday, officials said.
Residents helped shovel dirt around Carlson's residence to protect it from flames. He checked on neighbors to ensure they were aware of the danger.
Dressed in flip-flops and shorts, Carlson doused the outside of his home, which eventually lost several rooms to the fire. Carlson, who has asthma, said he suffered minor burns, smoke inhalation and respiratory failure.
Fourteen fires burned Saturday across the state, according to Michelle Finch-Walker, spokeswoman for Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Gov. Mary Fallin toured Luther, where at least 56 structures were lost to a 2,600-acre fire.
Resident Joe Love told CNN Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that he stayed in his residence as long as he could.
"When I left, the fire was right at my back door," Love said "I don't know what to think right now. I'm just numb to the whole deal."
A fire in Creek County, southwest of Tulsa, had mushroomed to 32,000 acres. Forty structures were reported lost.
"Those numbers are going to grow," said Finch-Walker. "It is rolling. It is a big fire."
Six helicopters had been deployed, according to Jerry Lojka, spokesman for the state department of emergency management. Officials were unable to handle additional requests.
"This is a repeat of yesterday," Lojka told CNN. "The fires that started to come under control last night are back to full fire."
Oklahoma City tied a record of 113 degrees on Friday, and Saturday's reading was expected to be around 107.
Oklahoma, like much of the nation, has been locked in an extreme drought, making fire conditions critical.
Travis King, assistant fire chief in Norman, said between 2,000 and 2,500 acres in the city had already burned. Hundreds of people have been evacuated in the Oklahoma City region since Friday, he said.
About 200 Norman and other firefighters were battling blazes, King said. Crews are rounding up livestock because farmers had to let them loose as fires approached, he said.
After taking his 12-year-old stepson to safety, Carlson raced against time to assist neighbors and try to save his trailer from one of more than a dozen wildfires that, as of Saturday, had destroyed more than 120 structures.
"That's what we do in Oklahoma," Carlson told CNN on Saturday from Norman. "We help each other because we are prone to tornadoes, disasters and fires."
Conditions across the state remained critical, state officials said, with high temperatures and winds stoked by a cold front.
The Noble fire in Cleveland County, south of Oklahoma City, affected about 7,800 acres and had destroyed 25 structures -- including homes and outbuildings -- as of Saturday, officials said.
Residents helped shovel dirt around Carlson's residence to protect it from flames. He checked on neighbors to ensure they were aware of the danger.
Dressed in flip-flops and shorts, Carlson doused the outside of his home, which eventually lost several rooms to the fire. Carlson, who has asthma, said he suffered minor burns, smoke inhalation and respiratory failure.
Fourteen fires burned Saturday across the state, according to Michelle Finch-Walker, spokeswoman for Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Gov. Mary Fallin toured Luther, where at least 56 structures were lost to a 2,600-acre fire.
Resident Joe Love told CNN Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that he stayed in his residence as long as he could.
"When I left, the fire was right at my back door," Love said "I don't know what to think right now. I'm just numb to the whole deal."
A fire in Creek County, southwest of Tulsa, had mushroomed to 32,000 acres. Forty structures were reported lost.
"Those numbers are going to grow," said Finch-Walker. "It is rolling. It is a big fire."
Six helicopters had been deployed, according to Jerry Lojka, spokesman for the state department of emergency management. Officials were unable to handle additional requests.
"This is a repeat of yesterday," Lojka told CNN. "The fires that started to come under control last night are back to full fire."
Oklahoma City tied a record of 113 degrees on Friday, and Saturday's reading was expected to be around 107.
Oklahoma, like much of the nation, has been locked in an extreme drought, making fire conditions critical.
Travis King, assistant fire chief in Norman, said between 2,000 and 2,500 acres in the city had already burned. Hundreds of people have been evacuated in the Oklahoma City region since Friday, he said.
About 200 Norman and other firefighters were battling blazes, King said. Crews are rounding up livestock because farmers had to let them loose as fires approached, he said.
