Wind-whipped fire threatened a barn and farm equipment Wednesday afternoon.
Since Sunday, the blaze has consumed over 500 acres of thickly-wooded land southeast of Henryetta.
Tuesday, the light winds left the fire slowly burning through the hilly, land east of the Indian Nation Turnpike. Throughout the day Wednesday, the wind steadily increased from the south, finally blowing the fire next to the turnpike lanes and threatening a barn. |  |
| Fire crews from Henryetta, Dewar and the state Forestry Department joined with landowners Wednesday trying to get ahead of the fire line. At one point, a bulldozer was called in to cut some fire breaks.
The orange glow of the fire could be seen from Henryetta diffused by the thick smoke. A stop at Jim Hall Lake revealed a large pocket of fire burning along Wolf Creek and the pastureland near it.
As of Wednesday evening, the only damage was to a number of hay bales at the Cobel Highland ranch just south of the New Lake Road. The loss was estimated to be between $3,000 and $5,000.
Sparks from burning trees were being blown several hundred feet away from the fire into dry grass, spreading the blaze. At one point, those sparks jumped the New Lake Road and charred about an acre of land before the fire could be extinguished.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers were on hand on the turnpike to caution northbound motorists about driving into the thick smoke. |
