Monday, January 2, 2006

Wildfires Spread in Three States

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Wildfires raged across Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico on Sunday, burning several houses in Oklahoma City and sparking patchworks of flames across the region as gusting winds blew flaming embers into the dry grass.

At least a dozen wildfires were burning across Oklahoma. In Texas, more than 20 fires sprang up, including a 22,400-acre blaze threatening 200 homes near Carbon, about 125 miles west of Dallas.

Crews flying over the Texas communities of Ringgold, a town of about 100 people near Wichita Falls, and tiny Kokomo, near Eastland, reported both had essentially been wiped out by flames, officials said.

Just west of the Texas border in Hobbs, N.M., officials evacuated a nursing home, casino, community college and several neighborhoods. Firefighters battled spreading grass fires on the western edge of the town of 29,000.

In Oklahoma City, two neighborhoods were evacuated as flames snaked across the northeastern part of the city and several houses were in flames. One man suffered minor smoke inhalation after refusing to evacuate his home, and firefighters later rescued the man in a field near his home.

"We will overcome this challenge," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry said in a televised news conference Sunday night. He urged people to avoid any open flame, including even a cigarette butt thrown out a car window.

Last week, wildfires in Oklahoma and Texas ravaged more than 50,000 acres, destroying nearly 100 houses and businesses and killing four people. Oklahoma put out an emergency call for more fire crews from other states, and the governor asked for a federal disaster declaration.

At least a dozen wildfires were burning in Oklahoma on Sunday, pushed by 50-mph wind gusts.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- A New Year's Day avalanche killed two snowmobilers near Rocky Mountain National Park, officials said.

A blizzard moving through the area near Trap Lake, northwest of the park, made communication difficult, so few details were available, said Eloise Campanella of the Larimer County sheriff's office.

Campanella said a wildlife agent reported the accident Sunday morning, and the two were confirmed dead two hours later. Their identities were not released.

In Utah, two snowshoers were caught in an avalanche Saturday high in the mountains of Provo Canyon, and one remained missing when heavy snow and the threat of more slides forced rescuers to call off the search. The missing man's companion, Jeff Frederick of Salt Lake City, rode out the avalanche and called for help.

Noise from a rescue helicopter triggered several more avalanches in the area, putting ground patrols at risk, said Sgt. Darren Gilbert, a spokesman for the sheriff. The aircraft had to turn back because of the heavy snow.

-- From News Services