OKC Wildfire Victims Rush Back Home To Save Family Heirlooms

Havonnah Johnson, News 9 and News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- News 9 spent the day talking to homeowners living near the Sooner Road and Air Depot area, where hundreds were forced out. However, there were a few who refused to leave.

We watched as one girl cried because her cat was stranded inside, and another rushed to save his family heirlooms.

Embers flying, a neighbor's fire alarm ringing, and the Chinook hovering overhead, but one man ignores mandatory evacuations, and invites friends to help him to salvage what he can.

He says he's got computers, artwork, a picture of his 30-year-old daughter who was a baby. All these are priceless things he couldn't walk away from, even though his wife left, evacuating hours ago, he came back to the home to grab a few family heirlooms and say goodbye to the rest.

In between packing truckloads with only seconds to spare, Johnny says he was forced to make tough decisions.

Fire threatened these homes just about two miles northeast of the subdivision and at this point, Sooner Road and Air Depot is still blocked off.

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