Yes, I found it! I spent a lot of time right around there, but didn't remember it. It's just north of I-44, the Turner Turnpike (old Rte66), near Bristow, where there were several fires this week, and just south of Drumright. That's all a well known oilfield, or actually several right there, Cushing and Drumright both.
Your friend is smack-dab in the middle of the more dengerous fire area. That part of the turnpike south of her is where many of the signs are posted permanently, "Do not drive into smoke." I'll keep an eye out today and the next few ("red flag warning" days) and let you know if anything is close to there.
If the town is very small, I guess it IS possible the phone lines were either affected because of the fire, or the high winds, or the system was overtaxed by a number of calls. Sorry I jumped to conclusions about that. (I'm having a little Branston Pickle and cheese right now, sound familiar to you?)
P.S. Shamrock is in Creek County, if you notice the weather bulletins sometimes just say the county.
Oh dear God -- Ping!
Fires Going From Home To Home
POSTED: 12:57 pm CST January 3, 2006
UPDATED: 4:58 pm CST January 3, 2006
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5819890/detail.html
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A wildfire in Shamrock is going from "home to home," according to an official from the Oklahoma state incident command center.
BREAKING NEWS VIDEO: 4:30 P.M. Wildfire Update
Officials said that three homes have burned so far in Shamrock, which is about five miles south of Drumright, and that the blaze was spreading.
In addition, a wildfire has reignited near Newcastle, along Highway 130.
Another blaze has five crews busy near the town of Dixon, which is northwest of Wewoka, near Wewoka Lake. Crews from Stroud, Kendrick, Davenport, Chandler and Agra are at the scene.
A wildfire reported near Hefner Road and Western Avenue was contained earlier Tuesday afternoon, but another popped up at Memorial and Interstate 35. That fire has also been contained.
Blueroze, the times shown in the story about Shamrock were about 90 minutes ago, our time.