22-03-2025
Pastor, disaster relief organization tour Logan County wildfire damage
LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – A pastor of a local church, along with a national faith-based disaster relief organization, toured the Logan County area devastated by the wildfires to better understand the needs of the community.
Fires were still smoldering, or reignited with Friday's winds, a week after the historic wildfires on March 14.
John Pross, the Meridian Volunteer Fire Chief, said his firefighters have been working around the clock in eastern Logan County.
LOCAL NEWS: Donations available Wednesday in Langston for wildfire victims
'My first tour I ran for 42 hours straight,' said Pross.
Pastor Derrick Scobey, of Ebenezer Baptist Church, along with World Vision, a nation-wide faith-based disaster relief organization, toured the damagve.
'I'm 57, I've never seen anything like this in my entire life,' said Scobey.
He's able to offer more than just empathy.
The two are partnering to distribute what the community needs at Langston University.
'I heard that water was a need. I just texted our warehouse and their going to put two pallets of water on the truck that's coming this afternoon,' said Mike Bassett, Director of Disaster relief for World Vision.
Driving down Crystal Lake, and along Henney Rd. near Hwy 103, you'll see house after house burned to the ground.
'The further we've gotten into this, the more devastating it is,' said Scobey.
Jason Smith's first day as a volunteer firefighter was last Friday. His own home burned to the ground while he was out fighting fires with Meridian Volunteer Fire Department.
'I heard one of the guys say over the radio we weren't going to be able to save the neighborhood,' said Smith. 'We just couldn't get through the smoke.'
Tragically, he also lost his dog in the fire.
'I still haven't had time to digest the emotions,' said Smith.
LOCAL NEWS: Volunteers give necessities to Oklahomans impacted by fires
Up the road is Rick Wetteround.
'About 40 years worth of stuff lost,' said Wetteround. 'I was here. They had to evacuate me, get me out of here.'
The 68-year-old's four trailers burned down, but he's still here.
'I'm living here. Staying in my truck,' said Wetteround. 'I got a storm cellar over there, I've had to go in there some.'
Scobey and World vision have resourced that which will make a world of difference for Wetteround.
Scobey said reaching everyone will take time.
'Probably about two weeks,' said Scobey.
'It's going to take a very long time for this community to regrow and regroup,' said Pross.
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