Fire Chief: Smoldering Brush Pile Sparked Wildfire Near Drumright

Drumright's fire chief says Friday's grass fire in Payne County was sparked by a brush pile that had burned several days ago at a home off Eseco Road. 

The fire department says the wind reignited embers from that brush pile and fanned a fast-burning fire. 

Close to 100 firefighters were called in to help fight the flames, while the state Forestry Department's Black Hawk helicopter was overhead dropping water on the fire.

Despite that, about 500 acres burned. 

More than a dozen homes were destroyed in the Oak Grove area between Drumright and Cushing during the 2012 wildfire. 

On Friday, the fire came dangerously close to those same homes, some newly built, other still under construction.  

1/29/2016 Related Story: Crews Battle Payne County Grass Fire From Ground, Sky

The fire chief says the landowner whose brush pile is responsible for starting the fire won't be ticketed because there was no burn ban in effect.