fire just north of usin the county - we are ok

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Alert Message has been issued by the Comanche County, OK Emergency Management.

Friday June 24, 2011 1:25 PM CDT

SITUATION UPDATE 2 - Medicine Park Fire - Click link for SitUp

SITUATION UPDATE 2

1:30pm Friday, June 24 Fire crews continue to battle the grass fire which began on Fort Sill's west range Thursday afternoon and spread north into the Medicine Park area causing numerous evacuations and destroying several (17 and counting) homes. Fort Sill officials have advised the fire originated on the West Range in the impact area. Fort Sill Fire Dept requested mutual aid just after 5pm Thursday. At approximately 7pm Thursday, the fire jumped Fort Sill's Northern Boundary Road and Oklahoma 49.

Shortly after noon (12pm) Friday, the fire was re-fueled by winds which pushed it farther northeast where it crossed Oklahoma 58 just south of Lake Lawtonka. An approximate 80 additional evacuations took place due to fire threatening homes in the area. That flare-up was contained shortly after 1pm.

Local and County officials, along with Fort Sill have set up an Unified Command in response to this incident. Local fire & law enforcement, as well as numerous Fire Task Forces from across southwest Oklahoma, Army personnel, National Guard helicopters, and Incident Management Team and several support agencies continue to fight the fire. The fire near Medicine Park is approximately 40 percent contained. (not as of 2 pm)

RESIDENTS REMAIN EVACUATED.

DAMAGES

Approximately 4,000 acres have burned on Fort Sill. Fire on Fort Sill is approximately 70 percent contained.

Approximately 1,500 acres (Off-Post around Medicine Park) have burned. Latest assessments show 13 homes (7 trailers & 6 homes) have been destroyed. Several outbuildings (sheds, detached garages, etc) have also been destroyed and an unknown number of homes damaged.

INJURIES

One (1) minor injury to firefighter (foot)

EVACUATION

There are over 500 homes in the Medicine Park area, including Lake Lawtonka and east of Lake Lawtonka which remain evacuated.

An evacuation shelter is set up on Fort Sill at Honeycutt Gym (Ft Sill Blvd & Randolph Rd ) were 20 people stayed overnight. There are currently no residents at the shelter at this time.

FIRE OPERATIONS

- Two (2) National Guard helicopters have been assisting with fire operations since 11am.

- Numerous Fire Task Forces from across the State have been assisting (or requested).

- As of 1pm, there are approximately 50 trucks with over 100 firefighters ACTIVELY fighting the fire.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Through this afternoon; 100+ degrees, winds S-SW 20-25mph, with of gusts 30mph. Humidity 15-20 percent mid-afternoon.

POWER OUTAGES

Cotton Electric reports scattered outages remain in the area after crews worked overnight and through the morning to repair damaged poles and lines.