OKLAHOMA COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

On March 19, 2008, District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn handed over the keys to a 2008 Ford F-450 to Deer Creek Fire Chief Doug McWilliams for the Departments use in fighting brush fires.  The cost of the brush pumper unit was $32,454.55 and was made available to the department through Oklahoma County’s Emergency Management’s budget for 2008-09.

Oklahoma County also provided over $20,000 in extrication tools to the Deer Creek Fire Department.  The deer Creek Fire Department routinely performs a lot of rescue work on Highway 74 and prior to our Provision they were using hand tools to pry people out of cars.

Oklahoma County’s Emergency Management Director David Barnes examined the department’s “calls for service” by the type and number, training hours, and other important factors and determined the equipment was necessary to help in emergency response situations.  The Oklahoma County Budget Board, consisting of all eight elected officials in Oklahoma County government, agreed last spring and the budget was approved to purchase the items listed below.

Oklahoma County recently put in place new flood control measures on Meridian for the Deer Creek Fire Department.  During the previous flooding events in the area the fire department would have to divert south on Meridian, even though the response was north.  This was no longer the case thanks to the flood control measures.

Oklahoma County also announced the deer Creek Fire Department will be the recipient of a $35,000 REAP Grant to help build living quarters for fire fighters at the station.  The funds will be available as of July 1, 2008.  REAP is an acronym for Rural Economic Action Program.

Attending the event: Becky Wilkinson, Deer Creek Schools Superintendent: Fire Chief Doug McWilliams: DCFD PIO Eric Harlow: Rob Talbot, Talbot Services; District 3 County Commissioner Ray Vaughn; District 3 Road Superintendent Gerald Wright; David Barnes, Emergency Management Director for Oklahoma County; Stacey Trumbo, County Engineer.