The Woodward News

Local News

May 1, 2008

Fire threatens homes

A wildfire threatened a number of homes north of Woodward Wednesday afternoon.

The flames came within 100 feet of one home before area firefighters were able to contain the fire, said Matt Lehenbauer, director of Woodward City/County Emergency Management.

And the residents of approximately half a dozen other homes had to be evacuated as wind gusts drove the fire northward, he said.

All together, the wildfire consumed approximately 150 acres before it was brought under control by firefighters from several area departments, including Fargo, Ft. Supply, Mooreland, Mutual, and Sharon as well as Woodward, Lehenbauer said.

“If it had happened two weeks ago we would have had a different situation,” he said.

“But there was a lot of budding on the trees, things were greened up because of the recent rains,” Lehenbauer said. “I think that helped more than anything.”

The fire is believed to have been started by a trailer that had a tire blowout along Highway 34 approximately four miles north of Woodward, Fire Marshal Todd Finley said.

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