Firefighters Battle Fire Involving Several Structures In Jenks

A former Jenks firefighter lost his home Thursday night to a fire that started in the back yard of a neighboring vacant home.<br />

Thursday, August 2nd 2012, 7:33 pm

By: Tess Maune

Firefighters Battle Fire Involving Several Structures In Jenks

Firefighters battled a fire in Jenks Thursday evening, which involved several structures, including the home of a former Jenks firefighter.

Tulsa Fire Department assisted Jenks Fire in extinguishing the fire near 1st Street and Beaver Street in Jenks.

Authorities said two Jenks firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, and one Tulsa firefighter was sent to an area hospital for treatment. They said he'll be fine.

Jenks Fire Chief Gary Friedel said, "With this type of heat, everything just travels fast and it's real hard on the fire crews. You know, they get exhausted quickly."

Dark clouds of smoke could be seen for miles, pouring from a small neighborhood in the heart of downtown Jenks.

Firefighters said it started in some outbuildings in the back yard of a vacant house. The fire then moved next door. Both homeowners were home when it happened.

One of them, David Walker, is a former firefighter who spent 22 years with the Jenks Fire Department.

He built the house from the ground up and said he did everything he could to save it.

"My little water hose didn't work out all that well, even though I was spraying there until the police chief come and drug me off," Walker said.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is still pending.

Tess Maune

Tess Maune, born and raised in El Reno, Oklahoma, joined News On 6 in March 2012. She’s an anchor and reporter for 6 in the Morning and is also the News On 6’s outdoor and wildlife reporter.