Large Wildfire Contained In Northeast OKC

News9.com

UPDATE: OKLAHOMA CITY -- The large wildfire near N.E. 63rd Street and Sooner Road in Oklahoma City is reportedly contained Tuesday night, according to the fire departments. However, crews are staying at the scene all night to monitor hot spots.

The fire has forced people out of their homes. At this point, no structures are threatened by the fire.

According to Marc Woodard, Deputy Chief of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, at this point 12 homes have been destroyed in the fire. Approximately 800 acres of grass have been burned. This is from N.E. 50th Street, traveling past Midwest Boulevard, and back toward Hefner Road.

Thick, black smoke from the fire could be seen from several miles away.  The flames were threatening homes in the area.  People between N.E. 63rd Street and Wilshire, between 50th Street and Bryant Avenue, and between Sooner Road and Air Depot have been evacuated. 

People who have been evacuated can go to a shelter that has been set up at Pleasant Hill Elementary School at 4346 N.E. 36th Street.  School children are also being dropped off at Pleasant Hill Elementary because school buses are not driving near the wildfire area.

A shelter for horses has also been set up at Redrock Stables, located at 2209 N.E. 100 Street, if anyone need a place to store their horses for now.

According to American Red Cross in Oklahoma City, an overnight shelter has also been set up for residents affected by the wildfires. This is at the Forest Park Community Center at 4203 N Coltrane.

Wildfire Near N.E. 63rd and Sooner Road

News 9 received calls from people who want to help those affected by the wildfire. One caller states that people affected by the fire can bring their horses or cattle to his property at 6101 S.E. 156th Street in Oklahoma City.

A spokesperson for Oklahoma City Public Schools says buses did not run from Rogers Middle School, Star Spencer High School and Spencer Elementary School.  Parents had to pick their children up from those schools.

Cedar Ridge Residential Treatment Center is a mental health facility that sits near the wildfire, but a spokesperson says residents and staff have been evacuated and are safe.

Crews from Oklahoma City, Spencer, Nichols Hills and Tinker Air Force Base are battling the wildfire.  Chief Keith Bryant with the Oklahoma City Fire Department says firefighters' first priority is saving lives and saving property. 

According to Tony McCarty with EMSA, four people have been injured in the fire that is still burning. One woman was transported for smoke inhalation, she is listed in good condition. One man received a laceration on his hand. Two firefighters have been transported to the hospital, one with smoke inhalation and one with minor burns.

At one point, more than 7,300 people in the area did not have power because the wildfire destroyed power poles.  Brian Alford with OG&E says crews worked quickly and have restored power to all but a few dozen customers.