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>>> MORE THAN A DOZEN WILDFIRES
ARE DEVOURING PARTS OF OKLAHOMA.
DOZENS OF FAMILIES HAVE LOST
THEIR HOMES.
MICHAEL SEIDEN FROM AFFILIATE
KOCO JOINS US FROM LUTHER,
OKLAHOMA.
YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF A
BURNT OUT BUILDING.
FIRST, I WANT YOU TO TELL US,
CREWS MAKING ANY PROGRESS OR ARE
THE FIRES GETTING WORSE?
>> Reporter: DON, WE ARE ABOUT
30 MILES NORTHEAST OF OKLAHOMA
CITY, OUT HERE IN THE CITY OF
LUTHER, A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY,
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE KNOCKED OUT
THE FLAMES.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST
MONITORING HOT SPOTS, BUT I CAN
TELL YOU THAT I HOUR
OR SO, A LITTLE BIT OF HERE
NORTH OF HERE IN THE CITY OF
STILLWATER THERE'S A RAGING
WILDFIRE THERE SO A LOT OF THE
RESOURCES HERE ARE HEADED UP
THERE.
DOWN HERE IN THE CITY OF LUTHER,
EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
>> AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS REAL
QUICKLY BEFORE YOU SHOW US
AROUND BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO SEE
IT.
WE'VE HEARD THESE REPORTS ABOUT
AN ARSONIST, MAYBE AN ARSON
LINKED TO THAT.
ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING MORE
ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR A SUSPECT
IN THIS?
>> Reporter: MY PHOTOJOURNALIST
BRIAN DIXON AND I WERE OUT HERE
ALL NIGHT AND DAY, BEEN IN CLOSE
CONTACT WITH AUTHORITIES AND
WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS YES, THEY
BELIEVE IT WAS SET BY AN
ARSONIST.
WE ARE TOLD YESTERDAY THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE GOT A TIP ABOUT
A GUY THROWING BURNING NEWSPAPER
OUT OF A PICKUP TRUCK.
SHERIFFS HAD BEEN FIELDING TIPS
ALL DAY BUT AT THIS POINT, NO
ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE UNDER A BURN
BAN, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN
THEY DO FIND THE PERPETRATOR, HE
COULD FACE SERIOUS CHARGES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO 47 HOMES AND BUILDINGS
DESTROYED AT LEAST, IN LUTHER.
SO WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO LOST
THEIR HOMES AND THE BUSINESSES
THAT YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT
OF?
ARE THEY IN SHELTERS?
ARE THEY SETTING UP THERE?
>> Reporter: WELL, DON, THAT'S
WHAT'S SO DEVASTATING, AN
EVACUATION IS STILL IN EFFECT.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU, THIS IS
ACTUALLY A HOUSE AND FAMILIES
HAVE NOT BEEN BACK YET, AT LEAST
FOUR HOUSES HERE, YOU CAN SEE
THESE HOMES JUST REDUCED TO
ASHES, AND IT'S REALLY A COMMON
SCENE ALL OVER THE CITY OF
LUTHER, AND BEFORE WE GOT ON
YOUR PROGRAM TONIGHT, I ACTUALLY
SPOKE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
AND THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY NOW
AT 56 STRUCTURES, AND OF THOSE
56 STRUCTURES WE'RE TALKING