GRANT COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – Breaking News in Grant County. A major fire was up in flames Sunday afternoon. The fire chief at the Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department told KFOR that crews were responding to a large grass fire.
Several fire crews were on scene assisting. Both lanes on State Highway 11 were originally closed from Highway 132 all the way to Highway 38 in Alfalfa County, but they have since reopened.
The fire was on the west side of the county, North of Jet and East of Cherokee. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says there is still a lot of smoke in areas that are heavy at times. Fire trucks are now working to put out hot spots and flare up spots.
There were multiple fire districts actively involved in fighting the fire according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. KFOR has confirmed they were receiving assistance from departments as far as Kansas.
There was no county wide evacuation, but fire crews at one point were working to clear people in the area.
As the weather continues to remain dry, KFOR has reported several fires just this last week across the state.
Last Wednesday we responded to the alcohol fire near Chickasha. Saturday we went an apartment fire in Southwest Oklahoma City which left one child in the hospital with serious injuries.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you of the burn ban currently in effect.
Oklahoma’s News 4’s Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan says Sunday’s combination of dry conditions, high winds, blowing dust and record high temperatures, are all the right weather conditions to create critical fire danger for the county.
“The winds really got cranking 63 in the panhandle. Most folks, 40 to 50 mile per hour winds. The good news, is we have heavy rainfall now just around the corner,” said Mike Morgan, Oklahoma’s News 4’s Chief Meteorologist.
No word on the cause of the fire yet, but the Grant County Sheriff’s Office asks you to please reduce your speeds in the area and watch out for fire personals.
