Governor's task force releases initial report on March 2025 wildfire response

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The wildfire response task force formed by Governor Kevin Stitt, after his criticism of the forestry department's response to the March wildfire outbreak, released its initial findings Friday evening.

The Wildfire Response Working Group, led by Secretary of Public Safety Tricia Everest and Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, was formed in early April to find areas of improvement in the state's wildfire response.

Stitt's decision to form the task force followed the controversial firing of former Oklahoma Forestry Services Director Mark Goeller, which was met with backlash from several Republican lawmakers including Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow).

The single-page report released on Monday lists several areas of concern identified by the task force, but doesn't not include any data related to those concerns nor proposed solutions

Among the concerns listed are fragmented communications between agencies, staffing shortages in rural volunteer fire departments, and insufficient planning and coordination for high fire-risk conditions.

The full report can be read below.

“Wildfires will come; we can’t always stop that. But we can control how we respond,” Stitt said in a press release on Friday. “Unfortunately, this report proves what too many on the ground already knew: resources weren’t used effectively, and the response from the Forestry Department fell short. Our firefighters were risking their lives without the backup they needed. That’s unacceptable.”  

The Governor's Office says the task force has formed subcommittees to provide recommendations and policy proposals to the governor and legislature in the coming months.