A Mississippi Forestry Commission employee from Webster County was among MFC firefighters deployed to Oklahoma last month to assist state and federal partners with wildfire suppression efforts.
Barry Slay of Cumberland was part of an eight-person bulldozer strike team deployed March 15, along with two division supervisors. The MFC wildland firefighters arrived in Shawnee the next morning. Slay and two others returned March 31 while two other individuals were deployed to take their place. The rest of the crew's detail was extended.
“We are extremely proud of our employees who are taking part in these efforts to help our state and federal partners in Oklahoma," state Forester Charlie Morgan said upon the team’s deployment “Fighting the destructive power of wildfire means that our wildland firefighters are working in extreme conditions protecting people’s lives, homes and forestland.”
Oklahoma wildfires have included one estimated to have burned more than 27,650 acres across Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma (Stateline Fire). With exhausted resources and high winds, Mississippi and four other states have sent personnel there to help under the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact.
Slay is MFC forest ranger for Area 22, which comprises Carroll, Montgomery and Webster counties. His team relieved a crew about 30 miles south of Oklahoma City where the fire danger was high.
The wildland firefighters worked until midnight or 1 a.m. every day, and not being familiar with the rocky and hilly terrain added to the difficulty, according to Slay. He said one fire they worked burned 1,290 acres.
One of the last fires the team worked was probably one of the worst, he said, with many houses and structures in danger, including a wind turbine that burned. He also said many volunteer fire departments were assisting.
Wildfire update
The MFC has deployed additional bulldozer strike teams and leaders to Oklahoma and Texas since Slay returned.
The Oklahoma Forestry Services reported that the “Rhea” wildfire had burned approximately 300,000 acres as of April 17, with 29 percent contained. News reports cited OFS officials as being hopeful Saturday that nearly an inch or more of rain in two western Oklahoma counties would help firefighters contain wildfires in the area. The two largest wildfires were the only ones reported burning as of Saturday morning, according to OFS.
Two people have died and at least 20 injuries related to the fires have been reported, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
Fighting wildfires
MFC wildland firefighters “fight fire with fire.” They plow a fire line (aka fire break) with bulldozers around the perimeter of the wildfire, then light a controlled backfire along the inner edge of the fire line to consume the vegetation – this lack of "fuel" for the wildfire creates a barrier to slow or stop the spread of the wildfire.
However, their job is not yet finished — even after containment has been reached, wildland firefighters continue to monitor the area. Since the wind can spread hot embers across fire lines, new spot fires may occur as far away as one-half mile from the original wildfire that must be suppressed.
Depending on the size, location, wind conditions and intensity of the wildfire — it may have to be monitored anywhere from several hours to several days to make sure the wildfire is no longer a threat to life, property, or forestland.
New wildfire
reporting number
The MFC has a new wildfire reporting phone number for the public to call in Mississippi: 1-833-MFC-FIRE (1-833-632-3473).
Previously, numbers were broken down by geographic areas of the state. The new wildfire reporting number will allow the public to quickly report wildfires statewide to the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s Central Dispatch Center, which will dispatch the necessary wildfire suppression resources to the appropriate location.
“We are very excited to announce our new wildfire reporting number,” said Randy Giachelli, fire chief, MFC. “Having one easy-to-remember phone number will streamline the wildfire reporting process for the public. The same number can also be used to obtain a burning permit anywhere in Mississippi.”
Prevent wildfires
From Jan. 1-March 31, MFC wildland firefighters responded to and suppressed 451 wildfires that burned 6,284 acres statewide. The number of structures saved was 813, while 23 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Nationwide, nearly nine out of 10 wildfires are human-caused, which means nine out of 10 wildfires could have been prevented with proper care.
• Don't burn on dry, windy days.
• Sadly, debris burns that escaped control were the No. 1 cause of wildfires in Mississippi last year.
In related news, the summer session of the MFC’s Prescribed Burning Short Course will be June 19-21 at the Southern Regional Fire Training Center in Pearl. The course is open to the public and designed for anyone wishing to become a certified prescribed burn manager in Mississippi.
