Enid, OK \u2014 Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement Monday addressing the recent firing of Mark Goeller, the former director of Oklahoma Forestry Services, following criticism of the agency\u2019s response to the devastating wildfires in March.<\/p>\n
The wildfires, which broke out on March 14, became the worst outbreak in the state’s recorded history, driven by a combination of high winds, low humidity, and drought conditions. More than 158 wildfires spread across the state, destroying over 500 homes and tragically claiming the lives of four Oklahomans. Local, volunteer, and rural firefighters risked their lives in the face of overwhelming danger, demonstrating the resilience and bravery that Governor Stitt described as “the very best of Oklahoma.”<\/p>\n
However, Stitt\u2019s response to the Oklahoma Forestry Services\u2019 handling of the fires has been less than favorable. The governor criticized the department\u2019s failure to deploy all available resources to assist local fire departments. In a press conference last week, Stitt suggested the possibility of eliminating the agency altogether, citing the forestry department\u2019s inadequate response to the crisis.<\/p>\n
This stance drew criticism from several Republican lawmakers, including a press conference hosted by Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, where they expressed their disapproval of the governor\u2019s comments. Additionally, one local fire department voiced its concerns on social media, circulating a petition calling for Stitt\u2019s impeachment.<\/p>\n
In his statement Monday, Stitt elaborated on the reasons behind the firing of Goeller, explaining that after a thorough review of the department\u2019s actions, it was revealed that only half of the available resources from the forestry department were deployed during the fire response. The governor described the department\u2019s lack of urgency and failure to act swiftly as “unacceptable,” especially given the scale of the wildfire disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe forestry department neglected its duties and left local fire departments begging for additional resources,\u201d Stitt said in his statement. \u201cWhen I learn information like this, I have no choice but to make a change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stitt\u2019s administration has already initiated a broader review of the agency, led by Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur and Public Safety Secretary Tricia Everest. The two officials have been tasked with compiling a detailed report on the failures during the wildfire response, including identifying areas where improvements can be made. The report is expected to be completed within a week.<\/p>\n
Stitt further stressed the need for accountability, declaring that the state would either rebuild the Forestry Services division or redirect resources to local fire stations better positioned to protect their communities. He also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Oklahoma\u2019s firefighting efforts are more effective and responsive in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe owe it to those we lost\u2014and to every family rebuilding\u2014to ensure this never happens again,\u201d Stitt said, vowing that accountability would be a “promise” to the people of Oklahoma.<\/p>\n
As the investigation into the forestry department continues, the governor’s office is expected to explore further measures to strengthen the state’s response to wildfire emergencies and prevent similar failures in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Enid, OK \u2014 Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement Monday addressing the recent firing of Mark Goeller, the former director of Oklahoma Forestry Services, following criticism of the agency\u2019s response to the devastating wildfires in March. The wildfires, which broke out on March 14, became the worst outbreak in the state’s recorded history, driven by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5005","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"yoast_head":"\n