Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday suggests elimination of the Oklahoma Forestry Service, criticizing its response to historic wildfires that swept across the state last month. His remarks were made during his weekly briefing with reporters in the Blue Room at the Capitol. (photo by Barbara Hoberock/Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY – A key legislative leader said Tuesday he is pleased that Gov. Kevin Stitt has backed off his call to abolish the Forestry Service following historic March wildfires.
During a Tuesday interview with Oklahoma City television station News 9, the Republican governor said he no longer plans to abolish that state agency tasked with wildland fire detection and preserving the state’s forests. Stitt’s about-face came less than a day after he doubled down on his controversial call to shutter the agency and reallocate the funding to volunteer fire departments.
“It’s encouraging to hear the governor’s shifting position of abolishing the forestry department,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “I think Oklahomans said loud and clear that is not a good idea.”
Stitt told the television station Tuesday that he threatened to close the Forestry Service because his administration was not getting answers about the deployment of resources.
“Listen, we are not going to get rid of forestry,” Stitt told the station on Tuesday. “I love our forestry. Those guys are doing what they are told. The bureaucracy at the top, their management let them down by not deploying them accurately.”
He told the TV station Tuesday that he had fired “a couple more people at the top level at forestry because – they were – it was insubordination.”
Stitt said Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur could not get answers from administrators in Forestry Services for three weeks.
Stitt’s office did not respond to Oklahoma Voice’s requests for comment on Tuesday.
During a press availability last week, Stitt first expressed frustration over how the agency responded to historic wildfires that began March 14. He lost a ranch in the fires.
Nearly 158 wildfires swept across the state, killing four and destroying more than 500 homes.
Stitt has previously said he fired the agency’s head, Mark Goeller, who denied wrongdoing. Many have expressed support for Goeller.
“I didn’t think they did a really good job,” Stitt said last week. “Here’s the deal. Why do I even have a Department of Forestry? Let’s just get rid of the whole thing.”
Goeller could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Stitt’s remarks drew criticism from legislative leaders, including Hilbert, and local and volunteer fire departments.
When asked about Stitt’s claims that other Forestry Service leaders had been disciplined, Kirsten Hollansworth, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said Tuesday that the agency does not comment on personnel matters.
Stitt was also asked why he didn’t declare a burn ban.
“It didn’t hit the threshold at that point, is what they told me,” Stitt said.
Stitt’s office did not respond to a question from Oklahoma Voice on Tuesday about whether he was out of town in March.
A Tulsa television station reported that Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, was acting governor during a portion of the fires.
While Stitt has said half of the resources were not deployed, his office did not respond to a request for additional information.
Stitt’s office said Tuesday afternoon in a press release that he had formed a fire response working group to “enhance Oklahoma’s wildfire mitigation, suppression, and recovery capabilities.”
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