Muskogee County ranchers take a financial hit after this week's wildfires

Muskogee County ranchers are feeling the impact of this weekâ€™s wildfires. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca says ranchers watched their lifeâ€™s work go up in flames. Bales of hay continued

Monday, January 2nd 2006, 10:50 am

By: News On 6

Muskogee County ranchers are feeling the impact of this weekâ€™s wildfires.

News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca says ranchers watched their lifeâ€™s work go up in flames. Bales of hay continued to burn Monday morning at Herman Cappâ€™s dairy farm.

Monday nightâ€™s fires torched hundreds of acres of his land, leaving only 15 acres untouched. He lost two barns and some livestock. The cows that survived only have a few bales of hay left to eat.

Capps lost more than $5,400 worth of hay or about 180 bales. The fires also too his livelihood. "Well, we've just got home insurance, donâ€™t have any insurance on the cattle. None on the hay and none on the pasture. That barn, I dont know, the barn may be covered."

Capps will have to sell his cows and get out of the dairy business after 30 years. He hopes something will be done to help other farmers in the area.

The fires are the worst Capps has seen. He says the fires will impact other farmers and ranchers in Muskogee County and hopefully they won't have to go out of business as well.