New Wave Of Wildfires Flare

(CBS/AP)  In a fresh wave of destruction after scorching more than 380,000 acres since early November, grass fires driven by high winds destroyed at least 24 homes and forced hundreds of evacuations in Oklahoma, which remained extremely dry despite snowfall earlier in the week.

The worst fire raged in southern Oklahoma near Ratliff City, where it burned through at least 20 homes overnight, said Michelle Finch, fire information officer for the Oklahoma Forestry Department.

Four air tankers dropped fire retardant on the area until dark Thursday and resumed the effort early Friday. The fire, which was four miles wide, burned 7,000 to 10,000 acres and was about 50 percent contained Friday morning, said Richard Reuse, an information officer for the state's fire response center.

At least four other homes burned near a high school several miles to the west in Stephens County, Reuse said.

Statewide, 11 fires were reported Thursday and as many as 18,406 acres burned, said Cliff Eppler, an information officer for the state's fire response center. There were no reports of injuries, officials said.

CBS News affiliate KWTV reports from Ratliff City that 750 homes in Carter County alone were evacuated, and residents moved to gymnasiums as dozens of fires burned nearly 20,000 acres.

In the town of Graham, 20 homes were destroyed by a four-mile wide blaze.

More than 800 homes were evacuated in Tatums, Fox, Clemscott and Graham, about an hour's drive south of Oklahoma City, officials said. Windy conditions were contributing to the spread of the fires, and shifting winds increased the danger.

"When that front went through here it was unbelievable," Reuse said. "Flags just whipped around their directions and the fire went roaring the other way. That's to be expected when a cold front comes through. It's a real dangerous situation."

National Weather Service meteorologist John Pike in Norman said fire
danger will remain high through at least Tuesday with little chance of
rain in the seven-day forecast.

"We're supposed to be in winter, but it doesn't look like any winter weather is coming," Pike said.

Since early November, grass fires have scorched more than 380,000
acres, destroyed more than 220 homes and businesses, CBS News affiliate KOTV reports.

So, now, when Gayla Stacy stands on her front porch and gazes at the 160 acres of fields around her, all she sees is black.

Wildfires that swept through two weeks ago scorched grazing land for her family's 150-head of cattle and burned the grass that the Stacys sell as hay. The flames also destroyed their barn, 150 rolls of hay and most of their farm equipment.

"We've worked 35 years to get what we've got, and we're glad our house didn't burn, but it still hurts," said Stacy, 53. "It's knocked a big hole in our livelihood."

The recent outbreak of grassfires across drought-stricken Texas and Oklahoma has compounded the misery of many farmers and ranchers dealing with the effects of one of the worst dry spells on record.

Gov. Brad Henry had planned an aerial tour of fire-damaged areas in southern Oklahoma on Friday, but he canceled the trip so the helicopter could be used to fight the fires, said his spokesman, Paul Sund.

In Oklahoma alone, grass fires have destroyed more than 220 homes and businesses and killed two people since Nov. 1. Wildfires have also menaced Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

In northern Texas, firefighters continued Friday to battle a blaze that had consumed at least 4,000 acres and threatened 20 homes about 100 miles west of Dallas, the Texas Forest Service said.

Due to the extensive damage, residents in 12 Oklahoma counties are now eligible for disaster unemployment assistance because of grass fires in those counties.

The assistance is available to those whose jobs were lost or interrupted as a direct result of the fires. Individuals who qualify for normal unemployment benefits are not eligible for the disaster assistance.