Couple Returns Home after Fire Prompts Evacuation

A couple evacuated from their home during a Franklin County Wildfire has returned home.

The Franklin County sheriff’s office said a large fire between Ozark and Altus was under control Sunday.

They were called around 2:30 p.m. Saturday after people noticed smoke coming from the top of a mountain near Pierce Road.

When fire crews arrived, Jim and Doris Hilburn were asleep inside their home. They immediately left, without grabbing anything inside.

Crews worked to build a fire wall around the house to protect it.

After two hours, the blaze was contained.

Sheriff Anthony Boen said the fire scorched about 40 acres burned, and that two barns burned, but no one was hurt. Officials suspect lightning from a storm sparked the blaze.

“We had a storm come through with lightning and strong winds,” Boen said. “So that’s what we suspect.”

A home in the path of the fire were evacuated earlier this afternoon.

The Forest Service brought in equipment and manpower to help. Firefighters from Ozark, Altus and Coal Hill fought the fire.

Off-duty, volunteer firefighters from the area pitched in to help.