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Timely rains douse wildfires in Oklahoma, Texas

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-13 10:40

HOUSTON -- Showers and thunderstorms have doused most of remaining wildfires in states of Oklahoma and Texas over the weekend.

Related readings:  Oklahoma official says blaze intentionally set  Dozens of homes destroyed in Texas, Oklahoma fires

Dispatchers around Oklahoma City told local media that firefights were called off early Sunday morning when rains soaked the last hotspots.

Cooler temperatures, high humidity, occasional showers on Sunday are great help to the firefighters.

Local weather forecast predicts there is a great chance for more rain Sunday night which may finally end lingering blazes in the State of Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, Rains and thunderstorms over the weekend have also drenched most areas in northern Texas, helping firefighters contain several large blazes that have burned since Thursday.

Most of exhausted Texas firefighters have been given a chance to rest or return to their homes.

Raging wildfires have scorched states of Oklahoma and Texas since Thursday, claiming at least three lives, burning down hundreds of homes and forcing thousands of residents into evacuations.

On Friday, Oklahoma governor Brad Henry declared a state of emergency for 31 counties while Texas Governor Rick Perry asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue an emergency declaration to provide rescue materials to 199 counties threatened by wildfires.