Governor Stitt praises wildfire response, promises relief

Governor Stitt, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, and Mannford mayor praise wildfire response, promise relief in a press conference held in Mannford.

10:54 a.m. – Governor Kevin Stitt begins the press conference from Mannford, praising the effectiveness of alert systems, including phone notifications. He shares that all residents in evacuation areas were successfully evacuated with no fatalities from homes, although there was one fatality related to a vehicle driving into smoke. He reports that 170,000 acres have burned, and 293 homes were destroyed. There were 14,000 power outages statewide. Governor Stitt extends his sympathies to renters and emphasizes the importance of neighbors stepping up as part of the Oklahoma Standard.

10:56 a.m. – Stitt notes the record-low humidity levels and high winds, which fueled the fires. He mentions the possibility of renewed fire risks early next week but reassures the public that out-of-state crews are arriving to assist with containment. He is awaiting further updates from emergency management personnel.

10:58 a.m. – Stitt attributes the fires to both controlled burns and power lines as contributing factors. Stitt stated that his own farmhouse north of Luther was destroyed in the fires.

10:59 a.m. – The Governor explains that declaring a state of emergency is necessary for accessing federal resources. He mentions discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has visited Oklahoma to assess the situation and offer federal support. Secretary Noem will work to provide resources and establish websites for fire reporting and support.

11:01 a.m. – Stitt highlights the importance of controlled burns and urges farmers to conduct them earlier in the season to prevent wildfires. He also mentions that other causes, such as welding on farms, contributed to the fire outbreaks.

11:03 a.m. – Governor Stitt credits the effectiveness of phone alerts and media coverage, including News On 6, for successful evacuations.

11:05 a.m. – Annie Vest, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, takes the podium. She explains that preparations began last Friday with the Oklahoma Forestry Service, and that all available resources and firefighters were mobilized. As soon as one fire was under control, crews were immediately dispatched to the next hot spot.

11:07 a.m. – Annie Vest outlines the state’s federal assistance process. She states that a State of Emergency enables reimbursement of response costs by the federal government. FEMA will step in if there are at least 400 majorly impacted structures (uninsured) statewide. She mentions that FEMA assistance is typically capped at $5,000 per property owner. She also encourages residents to contact their insurance providers and the State Insurance Commission Office to prevent fraud.

Vest shares that teams are on the ground assessing damages and that if the damage threshold isn't met for FEMA, the Small Business Administration will provide low-interest loans to anyone who has lost everything, given at least 25 affected structures.

She also mentions that the state is working with faith-based initiatives and non-profit agencies to provide resources to affected individuals and will remain available for as long as needed.

11:10 a.m. – The Mayor of Mannford, Clay Abercrombie, steps up to express gratitude for the help from surrounding areas like Sand Springs, Bixby, and Rogers County, though response was hindered due to the numerous fires. He praises the tireless efforts of rescue workers and emphasizes how overwhelmed local municipalities were due to the sheer number of fires.

11:13 a.m. – Annie Vest steps back to the podium to offer final recommendations and further details on the state’s response and recovery efforts.