11 families without homes after massive fire near Twin Lakes, fire officials say
TWIN LAKES, Okla. (KFOR) — Families in the Twin Lakes community are devastated after Tuesday's massive fire.
Sandra Gustin and her daughter Lindsey Deangelis spoke with News 4 Wednesday, reflecting back on the moment they saw their property go up in flames.
"I thought we lost everything," Deangelis said.
"There was just this white plume of smoke, and I knew it was my house," says Gustin.
Twin Lakes is located between Cashion and Crescent.
Deangelis said she had to release all of her animals to ensure they escaped the fire.
"As soon as I turned the corner, there were flames on both sides of the road," Gustin said.
Gustin and her family have lived on their property for four years.
Deangelis' home is still standing, but Gustin's home and another one on their land, burned.
"Everyone tells me it's replaceable, but now I've got to find my sister's ashes and my husbands ashes that are in there," Gustin said.
Fire officials say they believe a chain on a trailer is what sparked the fires.
"We had crews out all night long," said Ryan Deatherage, with Kingfisher Emergency Management.
Other neighbors describe themselves as still being shaken.
Thomas Jacobs lives down the street from Gustin and Deangelis.
"I could see 60-foot flames shooting up," Jacobs said.
Emergency crews say they're still hard at work, trying to tame hot spots.
"We still have task force in here today. We're monitoring those fires. We're trying to make sure that nothing creeps up on us," said Deatherage.
Deangelis and Gustin are still trying to process everything they've lost.
Gustin said, "I just turned 60 years old. I'm thinking, how am I supposed to start over again?"
If you'd like to help Gustin and her family rebuild, they've started a GoFundMe for donations.