Evacuation Orders Lifted In Rural Pawnee County

As the fires tore through Creek County Saturday, a separate fire scorched parts of Pawnee County. That fire appears to be under control Sunday morning.

Evacuation orders have been lifted for the Jennings township and areas west and north, including areas of Hallett, according to Mark Randall, Director of Emergency Management in Pawnee County.

The fires were brought under control at about 1:30 a.m., he said Sunday morning.

Pawnee Police Department Dispatcher Dennis Walker said they had a report of someone throwing burning objects out of a vehicle on Saturday. There were also reports of a lightning strike north of Glencoe as thundershowers moved through, but on Sunday morning things seemed to be quiet.

"We have no active fires," Walker said. "They are just mopping up some hot spots.

"If the wind comes up this afternoon, we run the risk of whatever is burning around the edges kicking up some embers," Walker said.

News On 6 Meteorologist Dick Faurot said wind speeds typically die down overnight. At 6 p.m. Saturday they were 10-25 mph. Faurot said wind direction will change in the late-night, early-morning hours, from southwest winds to north-northeasterly winds. Sunday's wind speeds are predicted to be between 10-20 mph.

According to Mark Randell, Director of Emergency Management in Pawnee County, the fires had burned through 5,000 acres Saturday. As of 9 p.m. Saturday, the fire was located about 4 miles west of Jennings, moving toward Terlton.

Between 8-10 agencies were fighting the Pawnee County fire. Randell said his crews were assisting with the fire near Mannford when they were called to Jennings. 

Early Saturday evening, Randell said the Jennings area was evacuated. Those located in the Jennings township and areas west and north, including areas of Hallett, were told to leave the area.

Walker said he believes people are returning to their homes Sunday though they have a couple of families staying in a Pawnee church.

For more stories on this weekend's wildfire coverage, click here.