Deer Creek Firefighters, OCSO Train For Active Shooter Situations

Deer Creek Fire Protection District and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office trained for active shooter situations Tuesday at Deer Creek Middle School. 

Deer Creek Fire Protection District formed a rescue task force earlier this year and received donated bullet proof vests from the sheriff's office. 

While Oklahoma County deputies worried about the bad guy in the simulated situation, firefighters were not far behind.

Now, they are able to go inside the building before it's cleared to rescue victims.

"It's all about time. Getting treatment to those parents much, much faster," said Michael Montgomery, Assistant Fire Chief of Deer Creek Fire Protection District. 

So instead of waiting until the threat is completely over, Deer Creek fire's task force moves in under deputies' cover and protection. 

It's a new approach for both agencies, as deputies work to integrate more medical response in a dangerous area and firefighters learn to face a new threat.

"We're not used to bullets flying or potential bullets flying," Montgomery said. 

Should this happen at a school or anywhere else, first responders said more people will get help faster. 

"There's absolutely peace of mind knowing that a kid we may have had to pass up to get a bad guy is going to get picked up right behind us," said Jason Ruegge with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.

The assistant fire chief said they'll continue to get equipment for the task force and keep training, but after these training days, they can respond to an active shooter situation.