Grass Fires Worry Residents In Pawnee County

Since this afternoon, firefighters have been battling a wildfire in Pawnee County that's charred over 500 acres.

Crews say they now have it under control, but the fire there was still burning around 8:30 p.m.

There were two separate fires Thursday afternoon, one near Terlton. Fire crews say some homes and livestock were in danger.

Old Terlton Road was closed in the afternoon and, in addition, drivers were asked to be aware when traveling Benight Road.

The smoke-painted sky is all too familiar for Ralph and Dawn Eaton.

"It's a little too soon. We just went through the Mannford fires last year," Ralph said.

They made it through that fire and another just like it the year before, but here they are again, the road to their home shut down, and the same worry on their mind.

"Our horses and our dogs, nothing else but them," Ralph said.

"The animals, they're our babies," Dawn said.

were called out to help battle the blaze that firefighters say was fueled by dry ground and wind.

"There's a lot of dead dry grass, there's been a lot of trees that die from the drought and a lot of branches fallen, so there's a lot of fuel," said Roger Findahl.

"They're gonna be the most problem of anything out here, is the cedar trees," said Terry Smith, with the North 48 Volunteer Fire Department.

He said the number one priority was to save homes, and said they possibly saved dozens Thursday afternoon.

"Houses and people and livestock; things like that don't those cost money. The trees will grow back on their own," Smith said.

A second fire was burning east of Cleveland Thursday afternoon, on the east side of the Arkansas River near the Osage and Old Prue area.

That fire was also burning in a rural wooded area and was spewing out a lot of smoke.

Thursday evening, Highway 99 was closed for a short while near the Arkansas River in that area, due to the fire.