LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A wildfire that burned 1.5 square miles in Perry County has been contained by Arkansas Forestry Commission crews.
Authorities say the fire burned between 900 and 1,000 acres.
"It all goes up quick, you know," says Gary Anderson of Casa.
Officials say the wildfire claimed Anderson's home along with four vehicles in the area.
"I was sitting in the living room shelling crowder peas out of our garden," says Anderson.
He says he noticed a yellow beam of flame in his window and went to investigate.
"Turned kind of orange yellow and I said 'what's up?' and got up and looked out the window and all those woods behind the chicken house there were on fire." says Anderson.
Anderson says he looked for his two cats, but decided there was not time and left.
'When I got over that little creek over there, the fire was on both sides," says Anderson.
With his home a good distance from the highway, Anderson says for a moment he thought he might not make it out.
"My thought was at the time , 'I hope there's enough oxygen where this car keeps running,'" says Anderson.
Anderson did make it out safely, but his home was a total loss.
Commission spokeswoman Sheila Doughty said Tuesday that firefighters have cut a line around the fire. One home burned before the fire could be gotten under control.
Doughty says the fire will likely keep burning for several days and that weather conditions could enable the fire to leap beyond the containment lines. Doughty says crews are keeping watch on the fire.
Between 50 and 100 homes had been evacuated as the fire spread on Monday. Affected communities include Casa, Homewood and Rose Creek. Two shelters were set up for residents who needed a place to stay.
Doughty says the fire was caused by lightning.
Evacuation tips: http://www.arkansasredcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=8T5VD1P333