Students, teachers return for 1st day of semester at Mannford Public Schools

CREEK COUNTY, Okla. - Class is in session Thursday for Mannford Public Schools as students and teachers return for the first day of the semester.

Just 12 days ago wildfires burned through the community, leaving at least 70 students and five staff members without homes.

To get an idea of the devastation, watch aerial footage of the damage the wildfires left behind.

Through community donations, school supplies were collected for students affected by the fires and a special activity fund was unanimously approved at this week's school board meeting for the teachers starting from scratch.  The fund is open for donations from the community.

Tens of thousands of acres were scorched and 376 homes were destroyed in Creek County, but students and teachers were looking forward to things returning to normal and heading back into the classroom.

See viewer-submitted images of the damage caused by wildfires: http:// bit.ly/ WildfireDamage .

Dr. Steve Waldvogel, superintendent of Mannford Public Schools, met with several students who lost their homes days before the first day of school.

"Amazingly, they're positive and upbeat about coming back to school," said Waldvogel.

Classes began at 8 a.m.

2NEWS Reporter Liz Bryant was in Mannford as classes got under way.  See her story tonight on 2NEWS at 5.