Victims Left Picking Up The Pieces As Wildfire Continues To Burn In OK, KS

Firefighters are still battling a wildfire that started in Woods County. The fire burned into Kansas and at last check, has burned nearly 400,000 acres. And that number will continue to climb.

Many have lost their land but more importantly their way of life.

3/24/16 Related Story: Large Wildfire Burns Nearly 400,000 Acres In Oklahoma, Kansas

A home built in the 1940’s and that has been in the family for years is now gone.

“My father-in-law homesteaded back in the 1900’s on this place,” said Katharina Arndt.

Decades of memories built with their own hands, and Katharina’s husband helped build it as a child. When the two married they lived in the home.

“We lived out here for 60 years. My husband always lived here,” continued Katharina.

It’s their grandson’s home now, he’s somewhere out on the charred property putting up panels to keep the cattle in.

“A lot of people lived through this house,” said Katharina.

The fire that took it started about a few miles down the road just off HWY 67. Green flags mark tire rubber, but the cause is still unknown. Several structures have been destroyed.

The old Arndt homestead built with love withstood a lot but the flames were just too much.