Senator Lawler Urges Caution After Latest Fires Cause Injuries and Displace Hundreds

State Sen. Daisy Lawler is urging Oklahomans to remember that there is still a statewide burn-ban in effect. That’s after a suspected arson fire in her district has destroyed homes, displaced hundreds of people and injured two volunteer firefighters with the Rush Springs Fire Department. At least five other firefighters have been reported injured in other parts of the state.

Lawler said the fire that started near Empire City has left members of her church and other friends homeless.

“It was two miles wide, 13 miles long—it was devastation,” said Lawler, D-Comanche. “We have about 600 people at the fairgrounds waiting to see what’s left when they go back. It was just devastating.”

According to Gina Childs, spokesperson for the Fire Incident Command Post in Shawnee, there were at least 27 fires that began yesterday burning over 13,700 acres across the state.

“People need to remember even though we’ve been fighting wildfires since November 1, we’re just now at the beginning of Oklahoma’s wildfire season. Other states are now entering their fire seasons as well,” Childs said. “We’ve had crews here from Mississippi helping out but they’ve had to leave because of fires back in their home state.”

Lawler said it is critical for people to understand how bad conditions are right now and to be as careful not to accidentally touch off fires.

“When I was at the coordinating center at Shawnee last night, the coordinators there said this is unlike any other year we’ve ever had. We’ve never had a year that was so warm, so dry, humidity so low and so windy,” Lawler said. “This is a one of a kind (year) in history.”

Lawler asked Oklahomans to keep the men and women who have been fighting fires across the state in their prayers—especially those who have been injured. She also asked for prayers for those who have been left homeless because of the fires.

“Again, I just want to stress to everyone to please be careful not to throw any burning cigarettes out of cars and not to burn things outside right now,” Lawler said. “And parents need to stress to their children that playing with fireworks during this time could leave people homeless—maybe even cost someone their life.”

According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Oklahomans who sustained damage to their homes and businesses in the latest round of wildfires can apply for state and federal disaster assistance by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov. The toll free registration number is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

Those with speech or hearing impairments can call 1-800-462-7585.

The statewide hotline for reporting arson is 1-800-522-8666.