Tulsa Woman Collects Supplies for Texas Panhandle Residents Hit by Wildfires

As wildfires continued to burn across North Texas and the state's panhandle, a Tulsa woman with ties to one of the hardest-hit communities has begun collecting supplies for people affected by the blazes.

Virginia Fowler, who lives in Tulsa but once called Fritch, Texas, home, learned that her former house had burned in the fires. She said she could hardly believe her hometown was being reduced to ash. "Knowing that so much of that land is now gone by fire is devastating cause there is memories you're always going to have memories," Fowler said.

Fowler's family was deeply rooted in Fritch. She said her father owned a Subway restaurant in the town and hosted events that were open to everyone to enjoy.

She is now accepting donations and plans to drive a van to Texas to deliver as many supplies as she can to people in need. Donations can be dropped off at the front doors of the Bank of America building at 15 West 6th Street in Tulsa. Fowler will take contributions until March 8, the day she makes the drive south.

"For their histories to be destroyed is horrible and that why I want to do what I can there's never not enough that you can contribute," Fowler said.

The fires have also hit close to home for others. Valorie Kelly, a Fritch resident who knew someone who died in the fires, described herself as devastated. "It was just unbelievable. It was like, no, this doesn't happen," Kelly said. She added that she was still in shock, noting that people hear about fires in places such as California and Washington, "and then here they are right on you."

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Smoke House Creek fire, the largest at the moment, was only 15% contained. Multiple fires remained active across the panhandle.

Asked what residents need most right now, Kelly said almost anything would help. Canned goods came to mind first, she said, because they last for years.

The forest service reports that the fire environment, and the chances of new fires starting, should ease as temperatures cool and winds die down.