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Mooreland wildfire now 60% contained

Earlier this week, the story was much different, but a fire containment line has made a huge difference

Mooreland wildfire now 60% contained

Earlier this week, the story was much different, but a fire containment line has made a huge difference

WAS 0% CONTAINED. >> WITH MORE DRY, HOT WEATHER FIRE CREWS ARE BRACING THEMSELVES FOR AN ONSLAUGHT OF MASSIVE FIRES. JUST LIKE THIS ONE. >> IF WE DON’T GET RAIN, WE WILL SEE MORE OF THESE BIGGER FIRES. >> IN ONE MONTH, OKLAHOMA HAS HAD TWO LARGE WILDFIRES. THE FIRST IN BLAINE COUNTY THEN WOODWARD. EACH BURNING THOUSANDS OF ACRES FOR DAYS ON END AND REQUIRING STATE AID. >> OUR RESOURCES AT THE STATE FORESTRY ARE STRETCHED THIN, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE STRETCHED THIN. >> COUNTLESS FIREFIGHTERS THROWN ON THE FRONTLINES IN TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT. SOME REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. >> THIS HEAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED IN A LONG TIME, MAYBE NOT EVER. 110 DEGREES. CERTAINLY THAT IS HARD. >> AS OKLAHOMA CONTINUES TO SUFFER A SEVERE DROUGHT, SOME PARTS EVEN EXTREME, FIRE CREWS ARE GEARING UP FOR A BUSY SUMMER. >> THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR
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Mooreland wildfire now 60% contained

Earlier this week, the story was much different, but a fire containment line has made a huge difference

Progress is being made fighting the massive wildfire in Mooreland, with the Oklahoma Department of Forestry Services reporting it’s now 60% contained.This is a huge leap from what seemed to be an out-of-control situation Wednesday. Strike teams are still hitting pop-ups along the rolling hills. But it’s nothing like it was, because of the containment line wrapping around the 14-mile fire. It’s the size of a four-lane highway.“At this time, it’s buttoned up – if Mother Nature would let it stay that way,” Abe Grey with Oklahoma Forestry Services said. At the beginning of the week, fire crews were praying for a miracle to help squash the unruly flames as they inched closer to homes and farms. More than 19,000 acres have since been scorched. Crews are now able to get closer to the dampened fuel. They say the fire is 60% contained. Some of the overworked, overheated firefighters have been able to return home. "Probably looking at releasing some resources in the morning. Today is going to be a good day, a lot of good work being done,” Grey said.The biggest concern now is keeping the pop-ups inside the containment line. Any strong wind could spell trouble.

Progress is being made fighting the massive wildfire in Mooreland, with the Oklahoma Department of Forestry Services reporting it’s now 60% contained.

This is a huge leap from what seemed to be an out-of-control situation Wednesday. Strike teams are still hitting pop-ups along the rolling hills. But it’s nothing like it was, because of the containment line wrapping around the 14-mile fire. It’s the size of a four-lane highway.

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“At this time, it’s buttoned up – if Mother Nature would let it stay that way,” Abe Grey with Oklahoma Forestry Services said.

At the beginning of the week, fire crews were praying for a miracle to help squash the unruly flames as they inched closer to homes and farms. More than 19,000 acres have since been scorched. Crews are now able to get closer to the dampened fuel. They say the fire is 60% contained.

Some of the overworked, overheated firefighters have been able to return home.

"Probably looking at releasing some resources in the morning. Today is going to be a good day, a lot of good work being done,” Grey said.

The biggest concern now is keeping the pop-ups inside the containment line. Any strong wind could spell trouble.