Love County brigade hosts class for new volunteer firefighters

By GvilleTX Newsroom

Fifteen newcomers to Love County volunteer fire departments attended a Fire Fighter I class hosted by the county’s EMS/Fire Brigade in June 2026, according to Mercy Health Love County. The hospital says those departments and its brigade train together and help one another respond to emergencies.

The hospital describes the cooperating agencies collectively as the Fire Department of Love County. That arrangement connects volunteer departments with the hospital-operated brigade through mutual aid. The county’s fire department directory includes Courtney and Orr, along with Marietta, Criner Hills and Thackerville.

For rural property owners, access to firefighters and water presents particular challenges. Oklahoma State University Extension identifies distance from fire departments and limited water supplies as obstacles in protecting farms and ranches from wildfire. Its guidance also addresses livestock and the hazards associated with hay stacks and fuel tanks.

Recruiting volunteers is also a statewide concern. After the March 2025 wildfire outbreak, Oklahoma’s Wildfire Working Group identified recruiting and keeping rural volunteer firefighters among the issues needing attention, according to its report. The group also called for better coordination between agencies and better information about available resources.

Communication was another concern in the state review. The working group identified the need for radio systems that allow agencies to communicate statewide, along with improvements in how and where emergency resources are dispatched.

Love County’s hospital-managed emergency service began providing fire services at WinStar in 2008 through a contract with the Chickasaw Nation, according to Mercy Health Love County. Separately, the county’s Emergency Management office says it relies on a single full-time employee and volunteers from the county.

State funding records document earlier support for local fire facilities and equipment. Oklahoma’s fiscal 2024 REAP project list includes an award toward building a station for Orr’s volunteer department. The same list records funding covering Marietta’s listed project budget for breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras.

Wildfire precautions apply beyond the colder months. OSU Extension describes November through March as Oklahoma’s usual wildfire season because vegetation is dormant, but says fires can break out throughout the year. The university identifies dry air and strong winds as conditions that favor fast-moving fires.

For outdoor work involving welders or other equipment that generates heat or sparks, Oklahoma Emergency Management advises wetting the surrounding work area before starting. The agency also recommends having water and a fire extinguisher within reach.