State Rep. Humphrey calls on Gov. Stitt to restore Forestry Director

Gov. Stitt impetuously fired the director of Oklahoma Forestry Services in the aftermath of the recent wildfires (which burned - among other properties/structures across the state - Stitt's ranch). Firefighters across the state were outraged, OFS Director Goeller was blindsided, and legislators are responding negatively to Stitt's action and his further suggestion to eliminate OFS entirely.

Former OFS Director Mark Goeller

Humphrey Calls on Governor to Restore Forestry Director

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 4th) – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, the vice chair of the House Public Safety Committee, today called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to return Mark Goeller, the former state forester and director of Oklahoma Forestry Services, to his job. The governor fired Goeller after wildfires devastated much of the state beginning March 14. The fires left four dead, 200 injured and more than 400 homes and other structures damaged or completely destroyed.

"I listened in total shock as the governor publicly insulted the men and women of the Oklahoma forestry division and spoke about firing the director," Humphrey said. "Director Goeller is known nationwide for his knowledge on fires and is one of the most responsible directors in Oklahoma government.

Small: California election system fuels California fires

California election system fuels California fires

By Jonathan Small

A group called Oklahoma United wants to set fire to our state’s primary election system and replace it with the California model, which places all candidates from all parties on a single ballot with all voters casting ballots to winnow the field down to two candidates for the November election.

The California system has produced inane results, such as statewide November races that involve only two candidates from the same political party, but the reality is worse than that. The California system has also produced the types of politicians whose policies have made California a literal tinderbox.

As is well known at this point, wildfires have left a trail of destruction through the Los Angeles area that resembles the aftermath of a nuclear bomb: charred rubble as far as the eye can see.

As I write this, the largest fire has already impacted more than 37 square miles and a second fire has impacted more than 22 square miles. More than 12,000 buildings and structures have been destroyed. More than 190,000 people have been under evacuation orders. And those numbers are expected to increase.

Worse yet, it didn’t have to be this way. Unfortunately, the policies adopted by California politicians made the devastation worse and the fires harder to contain. For years, in the name of “environmentalism,” California officials focused on restricting the use of gasoline-powered cars rather than boosting fire-mitigation efforts. They have dumped huge quantities of rainwater runoff into the ocean rather than build new reservoirs. They have failed to update water infrastructure to provide fire departments with sufficient water pressure to combat large blazes, which are going to happen in an area prone to dry spells and high winds. They have touted “diversity, equity and inclusion” over merit in hiring, including fire department leadership.

The list goes on and on.

Officials with Oklahoma United insist that adopting the California election model will produce more “moderate” elected officeholders and build “consensus.” But the results in California show that is not true. The California system has given that state a political class completely out of touch with the average citizen’s basic needs and indifferent to the consequences of bad policy.

In Oklahoma’s election system, there may be election results that – at least on a case-by-case basis – do not make you happy even though a majority of voters supported that candidate. 

But even if you don’t like the results of various Oklahoma elections, they have not produced a leadership class that literally devastated a state the way California’s politicians have.

As voters consider the proposal to adopt the California election system in Oklahoma, they should ask themselves one simple question: How’s it working for California?

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

State House interim study examines rural firefighter retention

Smith Studies Rural Firefighter Retention

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 30th) – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, last week held an interim study to examine issues surrounding recruiting and retaining volunteer rural firefighters.

The packed study was held before the House Public Safety Committee on Oct. 21 at the State Capitol.

"Living in rural Oklahoma, I know the importance of rural firefighters," Smith said. "We've got 60 and 70-year-olds fighting fires because we can't get some of the younger people to come up."

Small: “Equity,” “green energy,” produce bad results

“Equity,” “green energy,” produce bad results

By Jonathan Small

Public policy advanced primarily to gain social-media applause rather than improve people’s lives can have disastrous consequences, as seen recently in Hawaii.

In Hawaii, concerns about “equity” combined with promotion of “green” energy to create conditions where a wildfire could harm thousands and (apparently) kill hundreds. There were numerous steps along the way that could have prevented this tragedy. But policymakers never took those steps because of misplaced focus.

The wildfire is believed to have been caused by power lines that sparked a blaze in tall grass. The reason those conditions existed is due, in part, to politicians’ desire to campaign as opponents of hypothetical “climate change.”

Lamb unveils second statewide radio ad

Todd Lamb's gubernatorial campaign has released a second statewide radio ad touting his involvement in disaster relief during the 2017 wildfires in northwestern Oklahoma.

NW Oklahoma fire relief information

This week, wildfires burned over 780,000 (1,218 square miles) acres of land in northwestern Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas, with additional large fires in the Texas Panhandle. At least seven deaths were reported, and thousands of head of cattle are said to have been lost to the fires, in addition to destroyed grassland, structures, and wildlife.

The burn area from the fires (click to enlarge)

A Kansas home that escaped destruction

Fighting a fire in NW Oklahoma

Aerial shot of a Kansas fire near the Oklahoma border, taken by OHP Pilot Roy Anderson

Here's some information on various relief efforts:

OKFB partners with Love's Travel Stops, Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma 

to fund fire relief

In the wake of devastating wildfires throughout northwest Oklahoma, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has partnered with Love’s Travel Stops and Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma to fund relief for fire victims.

The three organizations have furnished gift cards for fuel to those transporting donated hay to the affected area.

An estimated 1.3 million acres of land have burned, devastating farmers and ranchers throughout northwest Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Ranchers in the area are in dire need of feed for the cattle.

Gift cards will be distributed at the hay drop off locations. If interested in donating additional funds, please contact the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office at 405-530-2681.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau provides resources for giving and
those receiving wildfire relief

If you would like to donate relief effort funds, please make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation and put "Fire Relief" in the memo line and send to P.O. Box 82395 Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To donate online, visit www.okcattlemen.org.

If farmers and ranchers need hay, please reach out to the Harper County Extension Office at 580-735-2252.

Emergency donations and information is available below. The immediate needs are hay and trucking services to transport hay. Below are the drop-off points if you would like to donate hay:

Australian Fires Set By Jihadists?

As Australia undergoes devastating wildfires, suspicion for some of the fires believed to have been started by arsonists has turned to Islamic terrorism.

In September of 2008, The Age (Australian newspaper) reported the following:

Australia has been singled out as a target for "forest jihad" by a group of Islamic extremists urging Muslims to deliberately light bushfires as a weapon of terror.

US intelligence channels earlier this year identified a website calling on Muslims in Australia, the US, Europe and Russia to "start forest fires", claiming "scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels' forests when they do the same to our lands".

Again, this has not been confirmed by any official from any country, but it is an interesting scenario.