The town of Mannford is digging out of the ashes. Oklahoma Emergency Management reported more than 52,000 acres of land was burned in Creek County during the weekend fires, and dozens of structures were lost.
As of Monday morning the fires were contained, but still burning. Many homeowners in the Mannford area are still without power, and officials say it could be weeks before all the power is back on.
Some families woke up Sunday morning with nothing left of their home, while others were left wondering why their house was spared. Nestled in the middle of West 61st in Mannford sits Frank Monjaras home.
"I'm on an island here, I got lucky really lucky," Frank said some of his land was burned but his home is in tact. Frank said he fact that his home is still standing is a blessing mixed with a twinge of sadness.
"How did I end up like this?" said Frank, "My neighbors homes are all gone and burned down to the ground it is so sad."
Frank has lived in the neighborhood since 1972. Most of his neighbors homes were destroyed in the blaze on Saturday evening.
“When the fire started coming I thought, Oh my God, what do we have coming at us.” He said he and his family have tried to help in relief efforts by providing water and other supplies but he doesn't think it is enough. “”Up and down the streets homes are burned to the, I just feel so bad for them,” Frank said.
Frank told FOX23 the fire is blow to him personally because his community, and the people in it, are hurting.
Nikole Herringtin grew up in the house across the street and a few houses down from Frank. She lost her childhood home in the fire.
“It’s crazy to think that in three days it can be gone,” Nikole said. Her parents don’t own the home anymore but she says all of her younger memories are tied to that house.
“It’s just surreal” Nicole said. “Everything is just on fire.”
