Fire Near Cushing Forces Evacuations, Community Grateful For Quick Response: 'It Was Kind Of Alarming'

One of the largest fires in Green Country spread southeast of Cushing, prompting evacuations Tuesday. Local residents near Highway 99, between Cushing and Drumright, say the warnings allowed them enough time to gather valuables, offering peace of mind despite the threat.

“We saw smoke in the sky, south of us, and it was kind of alarming,” said Payne County resident Johnnie Treat.

Treat and others living southeast of Cushing received evacuation orders on their phones Tuesday afternoon. Treat chose to evacuate, but her neighbor Julie House stayed behind to assess if her home would be safe.

Both homes, situated less than a mile from the fire, were spared along with their irreplaceable belongings.

“My main things are special pictures, a special album my grandma made of my dad, and our guns,” House said. Treat also prioritized family photos, Bibles, and her family’s guns.

After an hour, Treat returned to her home, while House stayed, feeling her property was safe due to the wind direction.

“Seeing those flames, and knowing if they get that cedar right there, those tree lines are going to all light up and get my neighbor's place. That’s my biggest fear,” House said.

The fire remained contained to the other side of the highway, thanks in part to Texas tankers that dropped fire retardant, which House described as “the neatest thing” to watch.

Cushing Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Myers reported that the fire, complicated by dense vegetation and trees, was eventually brought under control.

“For a while today we were completely defensive, pushing the fire around houses. We haven’t lost any structures today,” said Myers.

Deputy Chief Myers noted that at least 20 departments are actively working to contain the fire.