Dry, Windy Conditions Fuel Wildfires In Osage, Washington Counties

Several fire departments are working to keep wildfires in Osage and Washington counties from spreading.

One of the fires near the Bartlesville Municipal Airport forced some evacuations, but those residents are now back home.

Washington County Fire Chief and emergency management director Kary Cox said the fire started as a controlled burn on Sunday but broke out on Monday, threatening many homes.

“We had a tree or something that fell over the line,” said Cox. “Winds picked that up and so it’s a new outbreak from an existing fire from previous days.”

Alice Ririe’s front yard was turned into a command post for the firefighters battling the flames.

“My daughter called me at 2:00, she says there’s a firetruck at the barn,” said Ririe.

Firefighters strategically set fires around Ririe’s property to keep the flames from spreading closer to her house. As close as the fire got, she had faith in the first responders.

“They know what they’re doing and they’re going to be careful, so I wasn’t worried,” said Ririe.

Cox said crews back burned around other houses, including the ones temporarily evacuated.

"We’re just making a perimeter around the fire and allowing it to burn itself out,” said Cox.

Firefighters are also working to contain another wildfire just about 10 miles away near Osage Hills State Park along Highway 60.

Park rangers said it is not threatening any homes or other structures at the moment.