Big Grass Fires in Oklahoma!

[Patio_RF]

A lot of activity on OCFD "Tact 1" on a large grass and forest fire in far southeast part of Oklahoma City. I-240 and Air Depot to Sooner Road area if you want to check it on Google Maps.

This is really out of control and those Cedar trees flare up like a torch. They have three sectors working because it is so large. Also the same radio activity on Shawnee Fire, Choctaw Fire, Midwest City Fire, Moore Fire, and Norman Fire. Oklahoma City Fire is also talking to the air-drop aircraft. Police shutting down roads etc on OCPD "Santa Fe," along with OHP on I-240. With the 30+ mph winds this is a real mess.

"Brush Pumper 36 is stuck in a field near Sooner Rd."
"Tank Pumper ?? is stuck near Blue Water Road."
"20 hay bails on fire in a shed."
"Privately owned tanker is supplying 2000 gallons of water."
Female on a brush pumper screaming "On 89th and Sooner Road trying to keep it away from a house, were needing more help."
"119th and Air Depot, it is jumping the road and going towards houses."
"Brush pumper 36 is unstuck."
"Concentrate the air drops along I-240 to keep it from going any further north."
"Command, I need the radio shop to bring out fresh batteries."

I couldn't paste in a picture here, but you can get more pictures, the news story link, Doppler radar of the smoke and a video link at: www.newsok.com

 

[KK5FM]

Fortunately, Tac-1 currently translates to a UHF analog frequency, which can be monitored. Soon, though, we won't have the ability to monitor fire communications. In a very dangerous situation like this, I have always used a scanner to let me know how serious it is, and I base personal decisions (such as a route home...) on what I hear on the scanner. Just last night, I heard a District Chief assigning units to Tac 4 and 5, which are not translated back out on the old analog system *sigh*