Storms on Wednesday night brought more than two inches of rain to some parts of Kingfisher County.

While a welcome sight in what was set to be the driest October in recorded history prior to their arrival, the rains didn’t come soon enough.

The drought-stricken area combined with a red flag warning from the National Weather Service (warm temperatures, very low humidities and very high winds) were the unfortunate perfect recipe for wildfires.

Kingfisher County was not immune as multiple fires began last Tuesday afternoon north of Cashion, spread to the north and burned into Wednesday.

Before they were able to be contained, they burned thousands of acres, 10 homes, two businesses and one ag structure in Kingfisher County alone.

According to Cashion Fire Chief Clayton Hill, the fires began about 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of State Highway 33 and State Highway 74F (the Cashion turnoff).

Kingfisher County Emergency Management Director Ryan Deatherage said there were five different fires burning upon the arrival of the Cashion and Big Four departments.

An immediate call for additional resources was placed, Deatherage said.

Kingfisher Fire Department was among the first to respond with a tanker to support multiple trucks with water.

Deatherage said “numerous” departments eventually responded to the fire.

The strong south winds pushed the fires north toward the Cimarron River.

The fires were able to jump the river and continue to the north, including the Twin Lakes area.

Hill said all of the homes that burned were north of the river.

One barn that was destroyed, he said, was south of the river.

The biggest of the fires - dubbed the “Cimarron Bend Fire” - damaged more than 2,100 acres.

There were also a large amount of hay bales burned.

Hill said one of his department’s command units was lost in the fire and the Big Four department lost a brush truck in the fire.

Two firemen were treated for injuries, though Hill said he didn’t believe any were serious.

According to Hill, the fires were under control at noon Wednesday, Oct. 30.

As crews were fighting those fires Tuesday night, another fire was reported on State Highway 51 at County Road N2700, which is about 16 miles west of Hennessey.

The Hennessey, Dover, Omega and Loyal fire departments re-diverted to that fire along with a task force from Major and Blaine counties, said Deatherage.