Families Lose Homes In Large Wildfire In Northeast OKC

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Preliminary reports show the fire burned at least 12 homes and 600 to 800 acres. Three of the homes lost were along the short street of Acre View south of Britton.

One of those homes belonged to SteveAnne Bielich.

"About 5:30 my mom called and said the house is gone," Bielich said.

Bielich is a school teacher. So is her husband. Their whole family was gone this afternoon when the wildfire came through.

For them there was no time to save anything.

"It was all in the house, everything was in the house," Bielich said.

Police started evacuating the endangered area mid-afternoon, so some of SteveAnne's neighbors were able to save priceless family portraits, livestock and other valuables.

"I came home to get our dogs, cause I needed to get the dogs and to grab a few things out of the house, they said important papers things like that," said Michelle Kinzer, who was evacuating her home.

Some stayed as long as they could.

"I saw the flames flare up behind my neighbor's home there and so I was like okay, it's time to go," Geraldine Winslett said.

And when the flames were gone, some managed to find a way back to see what was left. Kyle Goodwin had two homes in the fire's path but in the end only lost his barn.

"It's unfortunate, I feel bad for them," he said.

Still SteveAnne says she hasn't shed a tear yet she found two of her dogs that are a little burned, but alive and her family is fine.

"It will be okay," she said.

EMSA says four people got minor injuries, including two firefighters. The fire burned one, the other suffered heat exhaustion. Both said to be doing alright.

8/30/2011 Related Story: Large Wildfire Contained In Northeast OKC.