Two Oklahoma Farm Bureau members have been appointed to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Wildland Fire Response working group, which will develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to enhance Oklahoma’s wildfire mitigation and response efforts.
Comanche County Farm Bureau Member Adam Bohl and OKFB Senior Director of Young Farmers & Ranchers and Noble Farm Bureau member Burton Harmon will both serve on the working group.
Bohl is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher in southwestern Oklahoma’s Tillman county near the community of Chattanooga. Bohl has served on the Chattanooga Volunteer Fire Department since 2007 and is the second generation of his family serving on that department and the third generation in his family to serve as a volunteer firefighter.
Harmon has been a member of the Sumner Volunteer Fire Department in Noble County for more than 15 years. Harmon also served as department chief for two years. In his time with OKFB, Burton has led hundreds of fire safety classes for elementary school children around the state, sharing fire safety fundamentals.
“The fires we saw last month were a tragic reminder of how quickly these events escalate and how essential it is that our response is fast, unified and backed by every tool available,” Gov. Stitt said. “This working group will ensure Oklahoma is not just reacting, but leading the way with innovative, proactive wildfire strategies.”
The governor’s office said the key objectives of the working group include enhancing interagency coordination, advancing wildfire mitigation efforts, leveraging grants and federal funding, partnering with the private sector and stakeholders, engaging academic research institutions and collaborating with the Oklahoma legislature.
The working group will be co-led by Oklahoma Sec. of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and Sec. of Public Safety Tricia Everest. Group members will include representatives from Oklahoma fire service agencies and associations, local and county emergency managers, agricultural policy and research professionals from Oklahoma State University, insurance industry representatives and other groups.
Gov. Stitt has directed the working group to convene within 30 days of the group’s April 8 formation. The group will submit a set of formal recommendations to the governor and legislature within six months.
