WAGONER COUNTY — Several homes were saved after Wagoner County firefighters worked through the night to stop a 160-acre grass fire.

More than a half-dozen agencies responded, including first responders the Oak Grove Fire Department.

2 News spoke with the Oak Grove Fire Chief and he explained that fire sales tax is critical to making sure they have the equipment they need to get the job done.

KJRH

On Oct. 29, a day after a 160-acre grass fire, Oak Grove firefighters made sure the area near 21st and 280th streets was OK after a downed PSO transmission line sparked a fire.

“It was hot,” Jeff Riddle said. “It was hot. “It’s a very fast-moving, very fast-paced event.”

Oak Grove Firefighter Jeff Riddle was one of dozens of firefighters who responded. He was checking in on homeowners like Nick and Mary Johnson, who were at the forefront of the flames on Oct. 29.

“I was scared,” Mary Johnson said. “It really scared me to see the fire so close to everything, such dry conditions, and the wind being so scary.”

As more than half a dozen agencies helped fight this fire, everyone was on hand. Neighbors even pulled out their own hoses to make sure all the embers were out.

“What you have to have is bodies and trucks, and equipment helps as well,” said Oak Grove Fire Chief Riley Shepherd.

Oak Grove Fire Department

Chief Shepherd says the equipment they use—drones, UTVs, and, of course, fire trucks—is effective in getting the job done.

He says the equipment was only possible because voters protected firefighter sales tax funding in the disputed election on March 5, 2024.

“They spend their tax dollars on us to protect themselves and their homes and their property, and that’s what we want to do and that’s our number one mission here,” Chief Shepherd said.

2 News covered: Proposal to reduce flat tax from the start Funding for all 14 Wagoner County fire departments was cut in half to pay for a countywide ambulance service. More than 11,000 people, or about 77%, voted against the proposal.

Chief Shepherd says the money they have to work for is crucial to getting the job done.

“We’re really lucky to have this sales tax in Wagoner County, and it really paid off last night,” Chief Shepherd said.

Neighbors like Johnson agree.

“They need to have this equipment,” Johnson said. “There was a lot of equipment here, and they just need to be able to do their job and have that equipment.”

Oak Grove is a volunteer fire department covering approximately 30 square miles with more than 30 volunteers.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere –