Firefighters respond to local wild fire

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Dowell
  • Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  A large wildfire broke out five miles west of Altus at approximately 11a.m., March 1, 2017. Nine emergency response agencies including the Altus Air Force Base Fire Department arrived on scene to battle the fire. The fire lasted for approximately seven hours and the smoke could be seen for miles. The investigation from the Altus Fire Department concluded that the cause of fire was sparks from a power tool.

The fire was believed to affect approximately 5,000 acres of grass and shrubs, that’s the size of more than 3,700 football fields. No people or livestock were injured and no buildings were damaged from the fire. Without the efforts of Altus AFB FD and the other agencies, this outbreak could have spread affecting barns, homes and power lines leaving the Altus community without electricity.

The Jackson County Emergency Task Force arrived to help fight this fire consisting of Altus, Oulstee, Elmer, Duke, Martha, Blair, Friendship and Eldorado. This effort to stop the wild fire consisted of approximately 50 emergency responders, 20 trucks and one helicopter.

Altus AFB sent out its brush truck, command truck and water tender along with nine personnel to assist with this incident. A water tender is used in situations like this to supply firefighters with water, where it is scarce.

“Altus AFB has the largest water tender in the Jackson County area said,” Philip Fourroux, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. “Utilizing the Altus AFB water tender, the other fire departments could keep their firefighting operations going without stopping to wait for smaller water tenders to be re-supplied.”

With the combined efforts of the Jackson County Emergency Task Force and Altus AFB service members, the wild fire threat to the community and the base was extinguished.

With spring around the corner and the lack of rain, any spark can be carried by the wind and cause a fire. If there is smoke or fire visible in your area contact emergency responders immediately at 9-1-1.