Tire fire burning in creek causes health concerns for neighbors
PINK, Okla. (KFOR) — It's been nearly a month since wildfires impacted the state. One area that was hit was Pink, near Lake Thunderbird. A neighbor there said part of the fire is still burning in the creek behind her house, and she needs help.
"Why is this still here? Why is somebody not doing something about it?" said Juenita Clements, who's concerned.
Those are the questions Juenita Clements has after her neighborhood was impacted by the historic wildfires last month.
Clements said she stayed home during the fires.
"It was all around us. We were down there with hoses ourselves, fighting it," said Clements.
Her house was safe and the fires have been out, except in the creek that backs up to her yard.
"We found out the day of the fires that someone had dumped a large amount of tires. I mean, we were told years and years and years worth of tires in that area there," said Clements.
Clements said she's tried calling her County Commissioner and reached out to the Governor's office, but hasn't had any luck.
She also called the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management last Friday.
"I have left a message over there at their office, but I have not received any messages back," said Clements.
It's also not just the leftover smoke and flames that concern her. Clements said it's turning into a health issue.
"My neighbor and I both are suffering from extremely bad headaches, like migraine headaches ever since the amount of smoke that stays on our properties," said Clements.
There was a lot of rain this weekend, and even with that, smoke and flames are still coming from the creek.
"I would just do anything just for somebody to help us," said Clements.
News 4 reached out to reached out Cleveland County and Pottawatomie County Emergency Managers, the Pottawatomie County District 2 Commissioner, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to get answers on putting this fire out.
The Cleveland County Emergency Manager got back with us and says the creek is within Pottawatomie County lines. He also talked to the Little Axe Fire Department and was told the fire just needs to burn itself out.
The Pottawatomie County Commissioner for District 2 also let us know that they are aware of it and are investigating.
DEQ is also now aware of the situation.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said they're checking with local emergency management.
News 4 also got a response from the Emergency Management Director of Pottawatomie County. They said they flew drones over the area Monday afternoon and are contacting the District 2 Commissioner, the State Emergency Operations Center, and DEQ to resolve the issue.