Flames destroy 13 homes, Oklahoma town threatened

MEDICINE PARK, Okla. - Churning fire described as a "wall of flame'' threatened a remote Oklahoma resort town Friday, pushing through dry brush on 30 mph wind gusts after destroying at least 13 homes.

Comanche County authorities ordered more than 1,500 people from their homes along the northern fringe of the Fort Sill U.S. Army post. Fire crews attacking the blaze on the ground and from the air had the 5,500-acre fire about 40 percent contained by Friday afternoon. High winds refueled the blaze, pushing it farther northeast across Oklahoma Highway 58 south of Lake Lawtonka, county spokesman Chris Killmer said. Additional homes were evacuated before crews contained the flare-up about an hour later, Killmer said.

The fire spread a thick, smoky haze over the foothills near the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. "The humidity is really low, there's high winds and it's very rough terrain,'' said Medicine Park Fire Chief David McCoy. Weather forecasters imposed a red flag warning Friday for temperatures of up to 108 degrees, winds of 20-30 mph and humidity readings below 20 percent.

"I've never seen it in my life as dry as this,'' said Doug Wright, chief of the Paradise Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which sent 18 firefighters to help battle the blaze. "We never fight major fires in June and July because it's usually green.''

Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb issued an executive order Friday declaring a state of emergency in 33 counties in western and southern Oklahoma, including Comanche County. That marks the first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary, and may be amended to include additional counties.

Lamb issued the declaration at the request of Gov. Mary Fallin, who is in Ireland this week attending her daughter's wedding.

Another fire east of Oklahoma City destroyed at least one home and led to the evacuation of some homes near McLoud, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Joey Wakefield said. That blaze began on Thursday and was rekindled Friday morning by high winds, officials said. The Comanche County fire began Thursday afternoon on the military post and spread northward toward the old resort town between the Wichita Mountains and Lake Lawtonka. Small fires also dotted the nearby mountains 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.

In addition to the six houses and seven mobile homes burned, fire had also consumed several sheds, barns, detached garages and storage units, Killmer said. At Fort Sill, officials asked post personnel to not water lawns or wash their vehicles until the fire is out.

Vince Gill Gets Star On Walk of Fame | Country Music News Blog

Vince Gill Honored with Star On the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Vince Gill is joining his wife, Amy Grant , on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ! Grant received her star in 2006, and in 2012 Vince will be honored with a star of his own. I’m pretty sure their stars won’t be positioned next to one another, but a star is a star! Other 2012 Hollywood Walk of Famers include actors Jennifer Aniston, Richard Burton, Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez and Adam West, music legends Barry White, Hal David, David Foster and the band Heart and cartoonist Matt Groening.

Gill once lived in Los Angeles when he was still a youngster and not yet so accomplished. Yet, he never thought the day would come when he would be honored in such a way.

“When I lived out there, I was such a young person…So even the thought of one day having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was preposterous. It was silly. It wasn’t even in the realm of my thinking. I walked up and down Hollywood Boulevard and said, ‘There is so-and-so.’ I never thought for one second, ‘I will have one of these one day.” -Vince Gill

It would seem that my original hunch was indeed correct. Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton ’s wedding video was NOT intended for public sharing, and has since been removed from the original youtube account. While SOME country music sites may continue to host and share the video, I will not be making an attempt to do so. Congratulations to the happy couple, and my sincere wishes that your private moments stay private.

The wedding of the year between Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton seems like it was quite the fun and intimate affair. We’re really excited and of course honored that the couple has allowed a video compilation to be released that gives fans an inside peek at the simple beauty the day held for Blake & Miranda .

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