If you’ve explored the Know It sections of NewsOK lately, you’ve probably noticed a new feature. It looks like the photo above and allows readers to submit maintenance problems that might be plaguing their community.

You can see a map and a list of non-emergency issues that have been reported. The service is called See Click Fix and coordinates with cities to make sure issues are reported to the right agencies.

NewsOK has embedded a map for the following Know It communities:

Edmond, Yukon, Midwest City, Norman and Oklahoma City

From a news standpoint, the issues you report help keep us informed about what’s going on in your area. Yet again, these should be non-emergency issues, but that doesn’t mean some of them might not warrant a story.

It’s an easy process to fill out the report and inform multiple people at once, including your neighbors. We can’t promise articles will be written for every or any issue, but it’s a good way to report the problem to city officials and let our reporters know what’s going on.

So try it out and let us know what you think.

For the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I spent a few hours with Red Cross volunteers in Oklahoma City and watched as they handed out fire safety tips in residential neighborhoods.

The photo above is of James Shults, 51, and his son Eric, 10, who spent the morning walking door-to-door and providing tips to prevent house fires. Shults said he met several people Monday who told him they knew someone who had lost their home in a fire.

Eric said it’s important work to inform residents. ”I just like getting outside and helping,” he said.

For the full story, click here.

Photo by Tiffany Gibson: James Shults, 51, and his son Eric, 10, of Oklahoma City, have been handing out safety fire tips to homeowners for four years. They walked the streets near NE 23 and Martin Luther King Avenue Monday, handing out tip door hangers and smoke detector batteries.

At least 3 structures burned between SE 138 and SE 134, and officials are still assessing the damage. Deputy Fire Chief Cecil Clay said he didn’t know exactly how many structures had burned, but hot spots in wooded areas gave firefighters a difficult time yesterday and he anticipates they will do the same today.

“There was no way we could save some of those structures,” Clay said. “When the wind is blowing 30-40 miles per hour embers just blow from one spot to another no matter how much water you use.”

Clay said the fire started around 3 p.m. yesterday and crews evacuated a 2 mile area east of S Hiwassee Road as the fire crescendoed about 5:30 p.m. Clay said 15-20 brush pumpers, more than 100 firefighters and tankers from the airport and National Guard were on sight to battle the flames.

He said there are still hot spots that crews can not physically reach because of the density of the trees and brush.

Clay said it was impossible to save some homes because high grass, trees and shrubs were too thick. The dry vegetation went up in flames quickly.

He said homeowners should keep grass short around their homes and clear away dried leaves.

- Valley Brown

Also, mascot Rumble will make a surprise appearance at a Midwest City school today to surprise teachers and students affected by the fire. Rumble will visit Barnes Elementary School at 1 p.m. The school was chosen because a large number of students live in the evacuation areas.

- Carrie Coppernoll

Gary Crow submitted this picture this morning:

Tornado over Miami Thursday April 9, 2009. By Gary Crow, for The Oklahoman

At about 11:05 a.m., about three dozen protesters and peace activists confined to a designated area south of a private Republican fundraiser began waving their cardboard signs and chanting, “Impeach George Bush” as the President’s motorcade rolled into an elaborate private driveway on North Sooner Road. Instead of waiting for the fundraiser to end, however, many of the protestors packed up and went home shortly after Pres. Bush arrived.

Michael McNutt reports that the President’s motorcade has just left the Presbyterian Health Foundation.

Jim Beckel says there are about 19 vehicles in the motorcade.

Jim Stafford reports:

The President said he is concerned that the U.S. health care system is drifting toward nationalization. He made a “big pitch” for health savings accounts and heard from seven women who own small businesses about their experiences with health savings accounts.

Jim Beckel reports:

All the media are back in their vans and are waiting for the motorcade to leave the Presbyterian complex. About a dozen TV and print photographers/videographers were allowed in for about four minutes at the end of the meeting.

Next up is lunch at the home of John Cresap.