By AAN Jack Quirk
Strong winds and multiple fires kept Kingfisher County firefighters busy Sunday as a powerful cold front moved through the area.
Temperatures began the day in the 70s before dropping into the 20s overnight. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph pushed blowing sand across several east-west roads, reducing visibility in some areas.
The winds also helped spark and spread several fires across the county.
Hennessey Firefighters were first dispatched to a grass fire west of Hennessey near Highway 51 and NS2770 Road. Within minutes, another call came in for a stubborn silage fire about a mile farther west. While crews were working that fire, the Ames Fire Department requested mutual aid for a large grass fire east of Ames.
Shortly afterward, another large grass fire was reported near the intersection of Highway 51 and NS2740 Road west of Hennessey.
Fire departments from around the county started heading to Ames for mutual aid, and stopped to assist Hennessey crews with the wind-driven blaze. Departments assisting included Big 4, Dover, Loyal, and Cashion.
Kingfisher County District 2 also responded with a semi water tanker to supply water to firefighters.
Heavy smoke pushed across Highway 51, reducing visibility to near zero in some areas. During the incident, a car collided with a semi-truck in the smoke, temporarily closing the highway.
The car’s driver was transported by Mercy Regional EMS to an Enid hospital with undisclosed injuries. The semi driver was not injured.
No structures were reported damaged. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reopened Highway 51 around 2:30 p.m.
Photos by AAN Jack Quirk
