Neighbors, rain save Oklahoma City house from flames

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A fire that burned down a garage and threatened a house Wednesday was apparently started by unattended welding equipment in the garage, Oklahoma City Fire Maj. Todd Pennington said. No injuries were reported.

Neighbors with garden hoses did their best to save the property owned by Glen Wright.

Randall Ratliff, 67, said he rushed to Wright’s house after noticing the garage was on fire.

"He’s just a nice neighbor,” Ratliff said. "He would help you if you had trouble.”

Ratliff said he and another neighbor, Alan Parker, tried but failed to save the detached garage and a motor home. Firefighters arrived in time to save the house, he said.

The house at 305 Richland Road SW is in Canadian County between Oklahoma City and Piedmont, Pennington said. Piedmont firefighters assisted with tanker trucks.

Smoke got into the house, but fire was limited to the garage, Pennington said. The damage estimate was $50,000 to the garage.

"The rain probably saved his house today, because he has a wood-shingle roof, but it was very wet,” Ratliff said.

Ratliff said he lives north of the Wrights and noticed the fire when he went outside to tend to his bird-hunting dogs. He did not realize the Wrights were at home when he arrived.

"He was on the back of the house with a water hose, and I was on the front,” he said of Wright. "His garage was pretty well engulfed in flames.”

Wright’s daughter lives next door and got her mother out of the house, Ratliff said. He said they used her water and hoses as they fought the fire.