Latest news with #OklahomaForestryServices
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt doubles down on criticizing state Forestry Service's response to wildfires
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday doubled down on his criticism of the state's Forestry Service, accusing the agency of not using 'every resource at their disposal to save lives and property' during historic wildfires last month. The Republican also reiterated a controversial call to consider abolishing the agency that is tasked with preserving the state's forest and is responsible for wildland fire detection. 'Unfortunately, I learned that the Oklahoma Forestry Services, the agency tasked with preventing and suppressing wildfires, did not use every resource at their disposal to save lives and property,' Stitt said in a statement. 'They neglected their duties and left local fire departments begging for further resources to fight fires. This is simply unacceptable.' Stitt said only 'half' of the Forestry Service's resources were deployed during the state's worst wildfire outbreak, which he described as 'the perfect storm of high winds, low humidity and drought conditions.' More: Stitt renews call for tax cut, wants investigation of wildfire response Nearly 158 wildfires swept across the state beginning March 14, killing four and destroying more than 500 homes, including a ranch Stitt owned. Stitt said Monday that he asked Mark Goeller, the head of the Forestry Service, to 'step down' so there could be 'a fresh set of eyes' and so the state could 'take decisive steps to prevent a tragedy like this from happening in the future.' Goeller has denied wrongdoing. 'The Agency to which I dedicated over 40 years of my life was said to have performed poorly,' Goeller wrote March 30 on social media. 'Preparations were made well in advance, the public was notified of the impending fire danger, firefighting resources were ordered and in place. 'Nothing was held back as the events of the 14th and following days unfolded.' Stitt last week first suggested abolishing the Forestry Service and providing funds directly to local fire departments, a plan that was swiftly panned by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Several high-ranking lawmakers were highly critical of the suggestion. Many have voiced support for Goeller. Stitt said he has asked his secretaries of agriculture and public safety, Blayne Arthur and Tricia Everest, respectively, to 'assemble a report detailing where our response failed and what can be done to improve that response in the future.' The report will be completed within a week, he said. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@ This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. doubles down on criticism of Forestry Service
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt issues statement after firing head forester, backlash from lawmakers
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Monday, Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement addressing the recent firing of former Oklahoma Forestry Services director Mark Goeller. Last week, Stitt criticized the forestry department's response during the large wildfire outbreak in March and accused the department of failing to deploy all of the necessary resources to help fire departments across the state. Stitt later suggested eliminating the entire forestry department during a press conference on Wednesday. Several Republican lawmakers criticized Stitt's comments at a press conference held by Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert on Thursday. One fire department also voiced their disapproval of Stitt's comments on social media, sharing the link to a petition that called for the governor's impeachment. Fire dept. calls for Stitt's impeachment, lawmakers condemn Stitt's statement Now, Stitt says he's asked Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur and Public Safety Secretary Tricia Everest to complete a report within the next week detailing failures during the recent wildfire response and where improvements could be made The full statement can be read below. As Governor, it is my duty to protect all four million Oklahomans. It is imperative that I ensure that those serving in state government share in that duty and work to execute it every day. On March 14, the state experienced the worst outbreak of wildfires in recorded history. It was the perfect storm of high winds, low humidity and drought conditions, which led to nearly 158 wildfires breaking out around the state. Over 500 homes were lost and tragically, four Oklahomans lost their lives. In the face of overwhelming danger, hundreds of local, volunteer, and rural firefighters ran toward the flames—sacrificing safety, and in some cases, their own homes. Their bravery represents the very best of Oklahoma. Unfortunately, I learned that the Oklahoma Forestry Services, the agency tasked with preventing and suppressing wildfires, did not use every resource at their disposal to save lives and property. They neglected their duties and left local fire departments begging for further resources to fight fires. That is simply unacceptable. I asked the forestry director to step down so we could get a fresh set of eyes on this division and take decisive steps to prevent a tragedy like this from happening in the future. As the Secretary of Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and the Director of Oklahoma Emergency Management began to dig into what happened on March 14, they were met with reluctance to give answers. When they received the answers they needed, they found that the director only deployed of his available resources to help local firefighters around the state. While our local firefighters were stretched thin, leadership at Forestry Services failed to act with the urgency the moment demanded. When I learn information like this, I have no choice but to make a change. As we dig into this agency, we will efficiently use funds to build the division back better or we can divert resources to local fire stations that are better situated to protect their communities. We see time and time again that bureaucratic processes stand in the way of getting actual work done for the people of Oklahoma. This time, the bureaucracy cost lives. We owe it to those we lost—and to every family rebuilding—to ensure this never happens again. Accountability is not a punishment; it's a promise. I have tasked Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur and Public Safety Secretary Tricia Everest to assemble a report detailing where our response failed and what can be done to improve that response in the future. That will be completed within the week so all Oklahomans can have answers. While work needs to be done, I am proud that the Oklahoma Standard came out in full force as Oklahomans started to rebuild from these fires and care for their neighbors. While that will never bring those we lost back, we keep them in our prayers and we will work to honor their legacies in everything we do. Oklahomans deserve a government that acts swiftly, decisively, and with their best interests at heart. When lives are at stake, there is no room for hesitation, mismanagement, or bureaucracy that hinders action. The tragic events of March 14 have underscored a painful reality—but also given us an opportunity to rebuild a system that truly prioritizes people over process. My administration will continue to hold agencies accountable and ensure that every arm of government serves our communities with integrity and urgency. Together, we will rise from this loss, honor the heroism of our firefighters, and build a stronger, safer Oklahoma for all. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Nothing was held back': Former state forester speaks out after firing
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The now former head of Oklahoma Forestry Services is speaking out after he was fired by Governor Kevin Stitt. Mark Goeller was criticized over his agency's response for the March 14 wildfires. 'He's the head of the forestry department and we had a horrible, horrible wildfire in the state of Oklahoma and, you know, didn't think they did a really good job,' said Stitt. Goeller says he's shocked, angry and anxious over the decision and says he is being falsely accused. Governor Stitt told News 4 in a statement 'At the forestry director's direction, firefighting resources were delayed, unused, or even called back during critical moments.' Goeller responded to that claim on social media, 'Preparations were made well in advance, the public was notified of the impending fire danger, firefighting resources were ordered and in place. Nothing was held back as the events of the 14th and following days unfolded,' said Goeller. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is running for governor, also weighed in. 'I think it is an absolute lie and an overstatement, the director deployed every available resource in a remarkably challenging environment,' said Drummond. Questions surround resignation of state forester weeks after devastating wildfires Drummond says as a cattle rancher he has first hand fought fires and knows what it's like. 'I have inhaled a lot of smoke and it's clear to me the governor has not done that. I think his ranch burned up and he's angry and has to vent and as a consequence the state of Oklahoma is injured and that is not acceptable behavior by our governor,' said Drummond. He also believes it's similar to what happened during the California wildfires. 'When I first heard it, it was almost like he was following Governor Newsom's lead who fired his DEI fire chief. Mark Goeller is a professional, he is not a DEI appointment, he has been doing this every year for 40 years, it's just a huge act of disrespect,' said Drummond. Firefighters have also been showing their support and standing with Goeller. 'Unfortunately the one that we have to blame is Mother Nature. That's the only one we have to blame for this event,' said Jason Dobson, Olive fire chief. News 4 reached out to the Governor's Office for examples of what resources weren't used and was told to submit an Open Records Request. We are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires in Oklahoma 2025: See live map of active fires in Oklahoma
Oklahoma remains in a state of emergency after dozens of fires spread across the state through the weekend. The east central portion of Oklahoma suffered the most fires, burning almost 2,000 acres of land, according to data from Oklahoma Forestry Services. On Monday alone, over 2,500 acres of wildfires burned throughout Oklahoma. This includes six fires in the northeast, seven in the east-central, and five in the southeast. The east-central portion of Oklahoma suffered the most, with 1,971.9 acres. Oklahoma Forestry Services has provided daily statistics on which fires burned throughout the state and the severity of each. Many of the fires are mostly contained, but some remain under 50% containment. Here's a look at some of the ongoing fires in Oklahoma: Track the latest wildfire and smoke information in Oklahoma with data that is updated frequently based on input from several incident and intelligence sources. If you can't see the map below, please click here. Here are the ongoing large and significant fires happening within the Oklahoma Forestry Service's protection area: Ketcher Hollow Fire (Latimer County) – 101 Acres / 70% Contained Black Fox Fire (Sequoyah County) – 106 Acres / 65% Contained Cherry Tree Fire (Adair County) – 109.0 Acres / 80% Contained Big Draw Fire (McCurtain County) – 146.4 Acres / 100% Contained Doublehead South Fire (Adair County) – 150 Acres / 50% Contained Dirty Pine Fire (Pushmataha County) – 157 Acres / 50% Contained Tully Hollow Fire (Adair County) – 205 Acres / 75% Contained Brushy Church Fire (Pittsburg County) – 240 Acres / 85% Contained Low Gap Lookout Fire (Haskell County) – 394 Acres / 90% Contained Venison Hollow Fire (Adair County) – 402 Acres / 70% Contained Hamby Ridge Fire (Delaware County) – 706 Acres / 100% Contained Plan B Fire (Latimer County) – 800 Acres / 50% Contained Flying J Fire (Latimer County) – 1,154 Acres / 50% Contained The following spots are areas outside of Oklahoma Forestry Service Protection Area: Ranch Creek Road Fire (Pawnee County) – 513 Acres / 25% Contained 1980 Road Fire (Beckham County) – 2,000 Acres / 65% Contained Camargo Fire (Dewey County) – 5,725 Acres / 40% Contained Hickory Hills Fire (Oklahoma County) – 6,643 Acres / 35% Contained Euchee Valley Fire (Payne County) – 8,512 Acres / 65% Contained Hellroaring Creek Fire (Pawnee County) – 10,186 Acres / 80% Contained Little Salt Creek Fire (Pawnee County) – 11,190 Acres / 25% Contained 840 Road Fire (Roger Mills/Dewey County) – 27,855 Acres / 40% Contained 33 Road Fire (Logan/Payne Counties) – 32,990.6 Acres/50 Structures / 25% Contained This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where are fires in Oklahoma right now? See map of active fires, alerts
Nahar Net
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Nahar Net
As Oklahoma reels from deadly wildfires, authorities warn of fresh fire threat
by Naharnet Newsdesk 18 March 2025, 14:37 With Oklahomans still reeling from deadly wildfires that whipped across the state and destroyed hundreds of homes in recent days, authorities warned that Tuesday would bring a renewed risk of fire to an area spanning from western Oklahoma through the Texas Panhandle and into southeastern New Mexico. More than 400 homes were severely damaged or destroyed in the outbreak of wildfires that started Friday in Oklahoma. At least four people died due to the fires or high winds, including a person killed in a vehicle accident as a result of poor visibility due to dust or smoke, officials said. While calm weather over the weekend helped crews get a handle on most wildfires burning across Texas and Oklahoma, forecasters at the National Weather Service said extremely critical fire weather conditions were expected Tuesday in parts of Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. With wind gusts predicted to reach as high as 50 mph (80 kph) in the afternoon, along with dry conditions and "receptive fuels," fires could spread rapidly, the weather service said. "These fires, once they get started, become really hard to stop," said Keith Merckx of Oklahoma Forestry Services. "They move more quickly than our resources can keep up with." He said officials will be returning their attention to western and central Oklahoma, where high winds were expected to pick back up again over the next few days. Much of the state will be back under fire warnings beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Andrine Shufran and her husband spent Monday raking through the ashes of their home in a neighborhood in Stillwater that she said "looks like a checkerboard" after the recent fires. "There's no predictability or fairness about destroyed houses," Shufran said. "There's only two options for the homes in our neighborhood: standing or burned to the ground." Her home was one of more than 70 destroyed by wildfires in Stillwater, a city of about 50,000 about 65 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City and home to Oklahoma State University. Shufran, a director at Insect Adventure, a petting zoo that's part of OSU and the university's extension campuses, said current and former students, friends and city officials have stepped in to help her and her husband. "I've been more overwhelmed by how fantastic Oklahomans are when they're friends with you, or neighbors with you, because we've had so many people reach out," Shufran said. Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce warned on Facebook on Monday afternoon of worsening fire conditions in the area. "Be prepared to take action quickly, if necessary," he wrote. Southwest of Stillwater, residents in two parts of rural Logan County were urged to evacuate their homes Monday afternoon after wildfires that already burned more than 47 square miles (120 square kilometers) in the county since Friday picked back up amid high winds and dry conditions. An evacuation shelter had been set up at the county fairgrounds in Guthrie, said Logan County Deputy Emergency Management Director Shawn Pierce. Pierce said an estimated 54 homes were destroyed in last week's fire in the county, which is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City. About 10 fires continued to burn in Texas on Monday as officials geared up for more high winds Tuesday, said Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Erin O'Connor. Although most of the fires have been contained due to slower winds Sunday, Texas officials were expecting wildfire danger to ramp up further into the week, O'Connor said.
