Mayes County Family Loses Home To Fire Caused By Sparks From Tractor

A Pryor couple doesn't know what tomorrow holds after a grassfire took everything they own.

The fire was one of 14 separate fires caused by a tractor last week.

Josh and Melanie Marihugh were taking a nap on August 21, when Melanie woke up early for some reason.

Melanie said she glanced out the window, saw flames, and they only got out with the clothes they were wearing before the fire reached their home. They said the things lost in the fire represented decades of family history.

"We didn't even think about grabbing anything, because honestly, I personally thought that we were going to have something to come back out to," Melanie said.

The Marihughs lost their trailer home, two other trailers, an older house and two storage sheds.

8/21/2012 Related Story: Fires Started By Farm Equipment Destroy Structures In Mayes County

On August 21, investigators say a man on a tractor was dragging farm equipment that threw off sparks as it traveled down the road in front of the Marihughs home.

The sparks caused 14 different grass fires.

"It's been rough, and I'm not - we're not - sure exactly what's happening next," Josh said.

Josh is a musician and lost all the music he's written.

They both work, but didn't have insurance on their place.

Melanie said she cried the first night and never again after that.

"It's just stuff," she said. "We do need to get out here and we are pressing to get something out here and move back out here, but the most important thing is that we didn't lose our lives."

Josh and Melanie have been living in a motel since the fire.

They need help cleaning this place up to start over and will live here again one day.

"This is our land, it's completely paid for, and I'm not letting some stupid fire run me off," Josh said.

Until then, they're sorting through the charred remains and smiling at the little things the fire spared.

The Marihughs say they don't know the man who accidentally caused the fires that destroyed their home, but whomever he is, they aren't mad at him—they just need help.

You can contact the Marihughs here, if you'd like to help.