Lightning Sparks Grass Fire in Black Kettle National Grassland

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Sept. 16, 2024

A grass fire ignited by a lightning strike burned roughly 200 acres Saturday night in the Black Kettle National Grassland, located 3 miles east of Reydon in Roger Mills County. Fortunately, no structures were involved.

According to Roger Mills County Emergency Management Director Levi Blackketter, the fire started around 9 PM as thunderstorms moved through the area.

He added that due to smoke inhalation, one individual was taken to Roger Mills Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne.

“We had one grader operator that got smoke inhalation and was transported to the hospital. He was released yesterday (Sunday) and is doing pretty good.”

Responding agencies included the Reydon Volunteer Fire Department, Crawford Volunteer Fire Department, the Roger Mills Task Force, and Oklahoma Forestry Services, who worked throughout the night to contain the blaze.

Additionally, another fire sparked north of Reydon due to downed power lines caused by the storms. This fire was quickly controlled and posed no major threat.