A Message From Emergency Manager Wesley "Chuck" Blair

Dear Residents of Forest Park,

We are having a moderate fall that we have all enjoyed, however cold weather and the associated challenges are just around the corner. As we have seen, Oklahoma can have challenging and sudden winter storms. The good news is that we can be proactive and do things that will keep our families safe and comfortable. This includes having a backup generator to use when the power goes out. We should also have a "go bag" with important documents and an emergency communication plan in place. Included in the "go bag" should be important documents, necessary medications, extra glasses, insurance papers, cash, important phone numbers, flashlights and other essential items. 

Having a backup generator is a great idea in Oklahoma, however, please observe the manufacturers safety information especially regarding dangerous CO fumes. We had a couple of calls during a power outage related to accumulated fumes from generators. One Forest Park family is fortunate to be alive because when I checked the CO level in their home, it monitored 100 parts per million (PPM), enough to cause serious illness after a few hours. Later when ONG came out to do a follow up, they found 500 PPM, enough to cause death in a relatively short amount of time! Please keep generators a safe distance away and upwind from your house. 

Finally, The Oklahoma Foresty Service says that wildfire activity has been less than normal in Oklahoma for October, however we could start seeing more fires here. The freezing conditions to come will push plants and trees into dormancy, which makes for perfect kindling. Grasses, leaf litter, dead and dying timber, standing timber and all that stuff is considered fuel, "said Drew Daily with the Oklahoma Foresty Service. Daily says our wildfire risk is now dependent on the weather. Warmer, dry, and windy days can be very dangerous. 

What can the Fire Department do? We continue to train on everything from unified command and fire operations to radio communications, and we also work to keep our tools and apparatus in good shape. We have experienced (seasoned) Fire Officers that know what to do and capable young Firefighters that have accepted the challenge to protect. Our mission is to protect you, and you can help by being proactive. Please look around your property and take note of things like trees located too lose to structures, climbing vines, wood incorrectly stacked against structures, leaves in the gutters and other items that could contribute to an increased fire load. Ideally, we will have a 50-to-100 area (defensible area) around your house to work with. 

Thank you for supporting your volunteer, Fire Department in our efforts to keep our community healthy and safe!  

Wesley "Chuck" Blair
Fire Administration / Emergency Management