Wildfires Flare

Smoke from a grass fire blows over Sorghum Mill Road and Kelly Ave., toward the homes in Oak Tree Golf Club area in Edmond, Okla., on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006.

Jeff Yoe along with others help fight a grass fire with shovels just south of Sorghum Mill near Kelly in Edmond, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006. Firefighters across the state jumped into action Saturday afternoon, with more than 20 wildfires reported to a state command center in Shawnee.

A grass fire burns in Oklahoma City, Sunday night, Jan. 1, 2006.

Area residents, who were evacuated from their homes, and their family and friends, gather for a prayer near a grass fire Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, near Oklahoma City.

A house and property burn during a grass fire near Guthire, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

Multiple homes and grass fires burn in Oklahoma City, Sunday night, January 1, 2006, in this aerial photograph from the KWTVRanger 9 helicopter Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

A house is destroyed by a grass fire in Hobbs, N.M., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

Onlookers stop to observe a grass fire in Guthhrie, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. Dry and windy conditions made for perfect conditions for fires that have plagued Texas and Oklahoma in the past week.

Plumes of smoke fill the sky as a grass fire burns near Cimarron City, Okla., which is 10 miles west of Guthrie, Okla., on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, as fires continue to burn throughout Oklahoma on New Years Day.

An oil well pump is silhouetted against a grass fire in Guthhrie, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. Dry and windy conditions made for perfect conditions for fires that have plagued Texas and Oklahoma in the past week.

Plumes of smoke fill the sky from a grass fire near Shamrock, Oklahoma, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

An Oklahoma City firefighter battles a grass fire in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

Flames and smoke from a grass fire are shown near Shamrock, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

Oklahoma City firefighters move in to battle a grass fire in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

A fire truck makes its way through a grass fire near Noonday, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005. Oklahoma and much of Texas remained under burning bans, particularly for fireworks, because authorities believe the fires were mostly set by people ignoring fire bans and burning trash, shooting fireworks or throwing out cigarettes.

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, left, talks with Weldon and Margaret Montgomery during Henry's tour of fire-damaged areas near Achille, Okla., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005. The Montgomerys were visiting their friend Benny Taylor, who lost his home and property to the fires.

Northlake Fire Department firefighter Steven Davis loads water into a fire truck on Highway 6 outside of Carbon, Texas, as crews battle wildfires Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.

Smoke fills the air between Water Valley and Sterling City, Texas, as a grass fire burns at sunset Sunday Jan. 1, 2006.

Cattle run from a grass fire in Guthhrie, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. Dry and windy conditions made for perfect conditions for fires that have plagued Texas and Oklahoma in the past week.

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