Wildfire grows in Oklahoma Panhandle

Jason Smith and Tyler Morris, two Balko volunteer firefighters, were reportedly hurt after their truck turned over while giving mutual aid to Beaver firefighters. (Booker Fire Department)

 

A wildfire in the Oklahoma Panhandle had grown to more than 23,000 acres as of Friday, a fire that had already left two Balko firefighters injured when their firetruck overturned earlier in the week.

The State Forestry Department labeled it the “Beaver River Fire” which started in Beaver County.

On Tuesday, volunteer firefighters Jason Smith and Tyler Morris suffered second and third degree burns when their truck overturned. They were air-lifted to a medical center in Lubbock, Texas where treatment is still underway.

 

Strong winds made the firefighting more difficult as the blaze consumed more and more dry vegetation .