Latest news with #ScottDouglas
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tree trimmer rescued from 50-foot palm tree in Phoenix
The Brief Rescue teams had to help rescue a man from a 50-foot palm tree. He was working as a tree trimmer when authorities say a tree skirt fell on him, leaving him unresponsive. Rescue teams used a rope system and drone technology to help lower the man from the tree. PHOENIX - A tree trimmer had to be rescued from a 50-foot palm tree after a tree skirt fell on him, leaving the man unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition. "They thought they had their safety precautions in place and then next thing you know, 911 was called and we went to work," said Phoenix Fire Captain Scott Douglas. "They can fall down and they can trap the tree trimmer around his waist. They can trap their chest where they're not able to get full respirations and they can't essentially breathe. I don't know if that's what happened here, but they did use chainsaws to be able to freeze some of that dead skirt that was up there some of the dead foliage and be able to put the ladder truck right at his location and secure him and pull him off the tree." What we know Rope systems and drone technology were used to help extricate the man off the tree in west Phoenix. They also need chainsaws and a ladder truck to cut the palm fronds down and lower the man. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. near the intersection of 67th Avenue and Thomas Road. Local perspective A neighbor said that it looked like the tree had never been trimmed before. "He was working around and pulling the palm fronds out," said Richard. "I heard some yelling and then there was nothing after that." Richard has lived there for more than 50 years.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Risk of wildfire outbreak in Oklahoma this week as high winds, dry conditions approach
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Firefighters across Oklahoma are on high alert as officials warn of an increasing probability of a 'wildfire outbreak' later this week, with near hurricane-strength winds and not much rain in the Oklahoma City Fire Department says it's already shaping up to be a busy week.'We're off and running on wildfires now,' said Scott Douglas with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. Firefighters warn of high fire danger as area experiences numerous brush fires Meteorologists expect strong winds to sweep across the state on Friday, combining with low humidity to create ideal conditions for wildfires.'We're really looking at the high winds and the low humidity,' Douglas said. 'Those are two factors that we're looking at for the high, high wildfire danger days.'McIntyre Law Chopper 4 saw it play out almost two weeks ago in a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood, where neighbors jumped in to stop a fire from burning their homes Oklahoma Forestry Services is warning that the fire risk is only growing.'There is an increasing probability' of a 'wildfire outbreak' across the region, particularly on Friday, the agency said.'We expect any fire that starts on that day to be extremely difficult to control,' said Oklahoma Forestry Services Director, Mark says even the smallest spark could be enough to start a wildfire.'Even a tiny spark, a discarded cigarette, you know, sparks coming from a trailer chain—anything that can create a spark and land in this dry vegetation has a capability of becoming a large wildfire,' said a car can be a fire year, McIntyre Law Chopper 4 captured Oklahoma City police cruisers bursting into flames after parking on tall grass during a chase.'We've even had some outdoor welders that were welding on a fence,' Douglas said. 'And these sparks were flying over some dead grass, and then we were taking off on a large grass fire.'This week, the fire department is bringing in special wildfire task force teams to stay ahead of the danger. Police chase ends with one arrested, small grass fire in NE OKC 'We have 16 front-line brush pumpers. We have several other reserve brush pumpers. We have five tankers across the city,' said Douglas.'If we can reach to the head of the fire and get it knocked down, then we work our way back towards the flanks,' he officials say there are several steps people can take to reduce their wildfire risk:• Clean up any dry brush or dead plants around your house.• Have a go-bag ready in case you need to evacuate.• Know two ways to get off your property.• Absolutely no sparks, no flames outside—no exceptions.'So many people get tunnel vision on their grill, and then they walk in for a second, and some charcoal falls off onto some dead grass,' Douglas said. 'It just doesn't take much for these wildfires to grow. So our biggest message is no sparks. OKC, please pay attention to what you're doing outside.'Firefighters also recommend that residents, especially those in rural areas, make sure their address is clearly visible from the road. They say that could save critical seconds in an emergency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
