OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A caller to 911 said the "woods exploded" as he described seeing the start of a wildfire near Luther.
The fire began Friday and eventually burned about 4 square miles and destroyed nearly five dozen homes and other buildings.
The caller described seeing the driver of a dark pickup truck throw something from the vehicle before the wooded area caught fire. The man said he was going to a nearby house to warn the residents.
Text of 911 call from man reporting the start of a wildfire near Luther on Friday.
Operator: Oklahoma County
Caller: Yes sir, is this the fire department?
Operator: For who, which fire department?
Caller: I'm in Luther, Okla., I'm up here on 150th and Luther Road. I just come off the turnpike. I was following a truck, he was up in the distance. He took off, it was a bluish-black truck. He turned around in the middle of the road and I got up here where he was at and the whole woods exploded when I got up to him. I got a fire (unintelligible).
Operator: 150th and Luther Road?
Caller: It's just west of Luther Road.
Operator: Just, 150th and Luther, just west?
Caller: Yes sir.
Operator: Is it a grass fire or vehicle fire?
Caller: It's a grass fire. He threw something out.
Operator: OK, where, where's he at now?
Caller: I don't know, I'm out here at the fire.
Operator: What's the description of the vehicle, what's the description of the vehicle?
Caller: It looked like a blackish-blue, dark-colored Ford. There's a house out here by it, I got to notify these people.
Operator: Ford, Ford pickup sir?
Caller: Yes sir, he was headed east.
Operator: East on, 150th?
Caller: I'm in ... yes sir.
Operator: OK, we'll get the fire department started OK?
Caller: (Unintelligible) I'm trying to get to these people's house.
Operator: OK we'll get them started.
Caller: It's coming right toward them.
Operator: We'll get them started, OK?
Caller: Thank you.
Operator: Alright, bye.
Caller: OK.
Link to the 911 call:
http://soundcloud.com/ocso911/luther-fire-call The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is seeking information from the public regarding the reported arson in Luther, Oklahoma that sparked wildfires on August 3, 2012. The OCSO has created several tip lines where the public can report information.
EMAIL: ocsocrimetips@oksheriff.org
CALL: (405) 259-OCSO (6276)
TEXT: (405) 259-6276
All information received will be kept confidential.
©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
