What started as another run on Panhandle grass fires turned dangerous in a hurry Thursday when a Guymon Fire Department brush unit rolled on a rural highway, injuring both firefighters on board.
Officials said the crew was headed out to grass fires in the Oklahoma Panhandle when their truck crashed and rolled. Both firefighters managed to get out of the vehicle on their own and call for help. Paramedics and fellow firefighters gave immediate medical aid at the scene. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries and released, while the other was admitted in stable condition with chest and back injuries. The wreck was a harsh reminder of how quickly dry, windy fire conditions can turn routine wildland work into a dangerous call for local crews.
According to KFOR, the Guymon brush unit was heading to a large grass fire southeast of Rolla, Kansas, when the truck went off the road and rolled north of Guymon on Highway 136, about six miles south of the Kansas state line. Both firefighters got out of the overturned vehicle and were treated on scene before being transported to Memorial Hospital of Texas County. The driver was treated and released, while the passenger remained hospitalized in stable condition with chest and back injuries. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck, assisted by the Texas County Sheriff’s Office and county commissioners.
The crash happened against a backdrop of elevated fire danger. The National Weather Service had Red Flag warnings posted for parts of the Panhandle, and satellite data showed lightning in the area helping to spark new grass fires. The governor's office said Oklahoma Forestry Services and other state resources had been prepositioned in Guymon and nearby towns to back up local departments. Officials said those overlapping responses reflect an unusually active start to fire season in northwest Oklahoma.
How the crash unfolded
Guymon Fire Chief Grant Wadley told KFOR that the front tire of the brush unit caught the right-hand shoulder of the road. With a full water tank on board, the driver overcorrected, causing the truck to roll about one and a half times before coming to rest upside down in an east ditch. Wadley said both firefighters climbed out and were able to summon help, and that coworkers and paramedics provided care before they were taken to the hospital.
Investigation and what comes next
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol temporarily shut down the affected stretch of Highway 136 while troopers and county deputies processed the crash scene and cleared debris. Even as investigators worked along the roadway, local fire agencies and Oklahoma Forestry Services stayed on the fire lines tackling grass blazes across the Panhandle. The governor’s office again urged residents to follow county burn bans and report any wildfires right away. Authorities did not release the names of the injured firefighters and said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will share further updates as the investigation moves forward.
