Wildland fire ravages hundreds of acres near Tupelo

The largest wildland fire that Coal County has experienced in recent history occurred last week near Tupelo.

Tupelo Fire Chief Rick Ellis said the fire, which started the afternoon of Monday, September 19, burned approximately 450 acres about one mile west and one-and-onequarter mile north of Tupelo on CR 3690.

Firefighters began responding to the fire about 1:30 Monday afternoon. The fire blazed and smoldered throughout Monday night, Tuesday morning, and Tuesday afternoon until about 3:30 p.m. when the last of the firefighters were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

More than three dozen firefighters from Coal, Pontotoc, Pittsburg and Atoka County responded to the fire, plus two private citizens.

Coal County volunteer fire departments included Tupelo, Clarita, Coalgate, Cairo, Lehigh, Olney, and Pine-Parker. Lula and Stonewall came from Pontotoc County; Ashland from Pittsburg County; and Stringtown Forestry from Atoka County. In addition, James Horton responded with a dozer, David Leland with a backhoe and a tractor with a box blade, and Commissioner District 1 furnished a grader and dozer. Coal County, Coalgate and Pontotoc County Emergency Management were also on the scene.

Ellis stated that while it was devastating to see about 450 acres go up in flames, he was thankful that no homes were lost. “One barn that had farm machinery and equipment and about 350 bales of hay inside was a total loss,” he said, “but we were able to save three homes that were in real danger.” And above all else, there were no personal injuries, he said.

Ellis stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time by the Tupelo Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Ellis extended his appreciation to all the firefighters and others who responded to the fire and to the people who brought ice water to the firefighters.

Coal County remains in the “Exceptional” drought category at this time. A recent report issued by the National Interagency Fire Center states that with severe to exceptional drought continuing for Oklahoma and no significant rain in the forecast, central and eastern Oklahoma may continue to have above normal potential for significant fires.

Coal County continues to be under a burn ban.