Guthrie Fire Chief talks wildfire preparations, risks

With high fire danger expected Friday, Guthrie Fire Chief Dane Lausen discusses the department’s preparations, fire risks, and how the community can help.

How is the department preparing for fire danger ahead of Friday?

Guthrie Fire Chief Dane Lausen said the department has been preparing since Monday.

“We’ve upped staff a little bit, we’ve got volunteers coming in … and (Oklahoma Forestry Service) Forestry is here as well.”

According to Lausen, the Oklahoma Forestry Service arrived Monday with a team of about 15 people, three dozers, a command vehicle, several brush trucks and an ATV equipped for wildfire response.

How does an increased fire danger affect daily protocol?

“We call these war days,” Lausen said. “We activated that on Monday, and we’ve got it going through the weekend and into next week.”

On these days, dispatch automatically notifies the three closest fire departments as well as automatic aid to ensure firefighters have immediate assistance.

“On a day like tomorrow, we will be responding with large amounts of brush trucks and tankers and a command vehicle just to combat the situation,” he said.

How does Logan County’s terrain impact fire spread?

“The topography here in Logan County, some of it’s wide open,” Lausen said. “When you get these winds, you don’t have much trees to block them, these fires can take off pretty quickly.”

Does the department use aerial resources for wildfire response?

Lausen said aerial resources are available if needed, as long as they are not already in use elsewhere. However, he noted that low pond levels could pose challenges for refilling aerial tankers.

What is your main priority during high fire danger?

“Our main priority is the safety of our personnel and our citizens,” Lausen said.

He noted that Logan County has experienced large wildfires before and covers a lot of rural land.

“Tomorrow’s just one of those days that’s very concerning, especially with the fire rate spread that they’re predicting,” he said. “They’re looking at a mile an hour. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s significant, especially when you’re trying to catch these fires.”

Fires could also spread rapidly due to spot fires igniting ahead of the main blaze.

“So you could be fighting a fire, and then half a mile ahead, you have a spot fire to deal with that’s starting a whole new fire,” Lausen said.

How can I help?

Lausen said the department is seeking donations to help feed all of their firefighters and volunteers.

The department is accepting donations of:

1. Gatorade
2. Water
3. Hydration packs
4. Protein bars
5. Eye drops
6. Beef jerky

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2. How to protect your home from wildfires: Tips from experts
3. What is a controlled burn? Rules on when and how you can safely do them
4. OG&E prepares for high winds, urges customers to stay safe
5. Current fire bans & fire weather conditions maps
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