Fire Departments Across Oklahoma Respond To Record Breaking Grass Fires, Battle Extreme Heat

As drought circumstances proceed in our state, native fireplace departments have their arms full responding to grass fires. 

Nonetheless, it’s volunteer fireplace departments that say their vans, that principally come used, take the brunt of the warmth. 

“The smallest spark might create a grass fireplace that turns right into a 1-mile or bigger grass fireplace,” mentioned Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson with the Oklahoma Metropolis Fireplace Division. 

The harmful warmth has firefighters in our state responding to a file variety of grass fireplace calls. 

“We truly pulled knowledge again to 2010 and never a single July in that timeframe approached the 324 mark that we simply noticed,” mentioned Fulkerson. 

“As of July 20, 2022, Oklahoma was ranked fourth within the nation for wildland fires,” mentioned Sheri Nickel, the Administrative Director for the Oklahoma State Firefighters Affiliation. 

“Now we have seen an uptick in grass fires, for instance on July 4 we responded to 18 complete grassfires that day,” mentioned Chief Cory Beagles with the Deer Creek Fireplace Safety District. 

The Oklahoma Metropolis Fireplace Division mentioned fortunately their new gear can take the warmth however that isn’t the story for smaller volunteer departments. 

“There are two totally different fireplace departments within the Southwest a part of the state which have misplaced their brush vans to fireplace. The minimal value to switch a type of is round $125,000,” mentioned Nickel. 

“We’re very lucky in that we have now funding base with our division however even with that it’s a fixed battle to maintain all the pieces on the highway and operational,” mentioned Beagles. 

The additional repairs are including up as we head into one other scorching month. 

“The entire rubber bushings, the grease and the bearings, all of it simply will get so scorching it begins to deteriorate,” mentioned Beagles. 

“We aren’t out of the woods simply because we acquired a bit little bit of rain not too long ago,” mentioned Fulkerson. 

Fireplace officers mentioned grass fires ramp up within the afternoon. They’re asking anybody who spends time exterior to be further cautious.