Okla. Wildfire Kills Man Who Refused to Leave Home

Controlled burn sparked the blaze
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 5, 2014 6:20 AM CDT
Okla. Wildfire Kills Man Who Refused to Leave Home
File photo of a 2012 wildfire in Oklahoma.   (AP Photo/Tulsa World, Tom Gilbert)

A controlled burn that got out of control sparked a wildfire that has burned through 4,000 acres in Oklahoma, and one man is dead after refusing to evacuate his Guthrie home yesterday. The man, 56, has not been identified. A thousand other Logan County residents have evacuated, KOCO reports, as the 75% contained fire threatens 150 homes. It's already destroyed six homes, and officials say that number is sure to go up; 15 abandoned buildings have also been destroyed, NBC News reports.

No other serious injuries have been reported, though several residents and firefighters had to be treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. As for the controlled burn, they are legal in the county, KFOR reports—but Guthrie's fire chief says, "Whoever is responsible for the fire is financially responsible for the damages." Meanwhile, due to windy and dry weather, at least two other grass fires are burning throughout the state. (More wildfires stories.)

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