TULSA, Okla. — “Without the Department of Forestry Services, my county would be hurting so bad,” Okmulgee County Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore told 2 News Oklahoma’s Douglas Braff.
On April 2nd, Governor Kevin Stitt called to eliminate the Oklahoma Forestry Service, rhetorically asking, “Why do I even have a Department of Forestry? Let's just get rid of the whole thing."
The comments came after the negative reaction to Stitt's decision to fire the department director, Mark Goeller, in the aftermath of a massive wildfire that burned across the state.
WATCH: Stitt suggests abolishing Forestry department"
2 News Oklahoma talked to fire officials and emergency managers after Goeller's firing, all confused and upset by Stitt's decision. After the call to eliminate the department 2 News Oklahoma talked to them again.
WATCH: 'Speechless': Green Country officials react to Stitt's call to end Forestry Service:
Olive Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Dobson had no words, “Well, I was- I was speechless. I could not believe that he publicly came out at his press conference, saying that we don't need the Forestry Service, ‘Why have them?’”
So, what does the forestry department handle?
The Forestry Service started in 1925. On the state's website their mission is:
Included in that is fighting wildfires in Oklahoma, giving local fire departments and emergency managers like Moore a helping hand.
“Those people come out, they train tirelessly to fight these wildfires, and those men and women help us out,” Moore told us. “I couldn't imagine a day that I couldn't have them in my toolbox to call for assistance.”
Weeks ago a wildfire ravaged Mannford, destroying homes and damaging others. It’s a prime example of why Moore relies on the Forestry Service- he doesn’t have enough money, equipment, or manpower to handle wildfires like this one.
Moore compared removing the Forestry Service to eliminating an agency like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
When asked if ending the Forestry Service threatens the public, he said, “I think if they get rid of the Forestry Department, yes, it would put the public at risk.”
Stitt said doing so “would save $75 million for the taxpayers. Or, let’s take $50 million of that, let’s give it to our local firefighters … our volunteer fire departments.”
Dobson disagreed with the governor’s suggestion, “Well, there's a little over 900 fire departments in Oklahoma. So, if my math is correct, if you take the 50 million and divide it by just 900, you're looking at $55,000 per department.”
2 News Oklahoma contacted the governor’s office multiple times for an interview, but he wasn’t available.
Moore emphasized he doesn’t have anything against Stitt but suggested he’s always happy to talk with the governor about the Forestry Service’s role.
“Speak to some of your local emergency managers,” said Moore. “I don't know if that's on the table or anything, but we're all willing to talk.”
In the late afternoon on April 3rd, the Olive Volunteer Fire Department's Facebook page took a harsh view on Stitt and recent actions.
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