INDIAHOMA - Saturday’s Railroad South Fire near Indiahoma has claimed at least two lives, at least five homes and more than 500 acres of land but, according to officials, was under control as of Sunday afternoon.
The fire, which began shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday in the area between Gore Boulevard and Cache Road near Holsey Acres Road spread quickly and was cause for a multi-county and agency effort to stave it off.
Officer lost
Federal Wildlife Officer David Taylor
According to a release by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Wildlife Officer David Taylor, 38 of Scio, Oregon, is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by fire.
Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety, according to the federal service. His last contact with dispatch came while he was helping a family evacuate their home. Evidence recovered from a structure where he was working indicates that he died during the evacuation effort. Formal identification remains pending with the medical examiner. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office was at the scene Sunday.
“Everything we know about David’s actions reflects extraordinary courage, selflessness and devotion to duty,” the service said in a statement.
Comanche Nation veteran lost
In a statement of compassion and support released Monday, Comanche Nation Tribal Administrator Lisa Dawsey said a tribal member died from the Railroad South Fire.
Vandal Nauni, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, was killed in Saturday’s fire when it reached his home at 21543 NW Holsey Acres Road.
“Vandal was a valued
Turn to member of our tribal community, and his loss is deeply felt by his family, friends, and the entire Comanche Nation,” Dawsey said.
She also noted that Comanche Nation families and tribal members lost their homes in the devastating fire.
“We understand that losing a home is about much more than losing a structure,” she said. “A home holds family memories, photographs, personal belongings, important documents, and the everyday things that make a place feel safe and familiar.
“This tragedy has touched many lives, but it also reminds us of the strength of our community. In the days ahead, we ask our tribal members and community partners to continue coming together with compassion, generosity, prayer and support.”
Evacuations & effort
Evacuations of neighborhoods in the path of the fire were in effect Saturday afternoon after a large, unified task force of county fire departments from Comanche, Caddo, Kiowa, Jackson and Tillman counties joined with the Lawton Fire Department, Fort Sill Fire, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Comanche Nation to battle the quickly growing blaze. Lawton Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Comanche County Sheriff’s Department deputies were in full force to halt traffic and assist with getting people evacuated. There were more than 200 firefighters reported to be engaged in the effort. This also includes air support through the effort.
With severe drought conditions and triple-digit temperatures, emergency radio traffic offered audible evidence that firefighters were in for the fight of their lives. There were several calls over the airwaves of fire severe enough that responders were unable to get to structures to battle the blaze.
Sunday’s aftermath
According to Comanche County-Lawton Emergency Management, the fire’s progression north was staved off before 11 p.m. Saturday. By 2 p.m. Sunday it was under control and 30% contained. However, active fire operations continued.
The evacuation order was lifted, all traffic control points were removed, and shelters were no longer active, according to Emergency Management. Residents were allowed to return to their homes if they remained standing.
Five homes were confirmed as destroyed, two homes suffered moderate damage and three people were taken for medical care. Their conditions are unknown, according to Emergency Management Deputy Director Alana Pack.
In total, as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 515 acres were reported burned in the blaze.
The BIA assumed the lead on the fire Sunday afternoon, with local, state, federal, and tribal resources continuing suppression operations, Emergency Management reported. Crews reinforced firebreaks, extinguishing and monitoring hot spots while protecting structures, and watching for rekindles or renewed fire spread. Federal law enforcement is also assisting with the fire investigation.
People are asked to stay out of the affected area unless they are a resident of the area as fire apparatus, law enforcement vehicles, personnel, smoke, debris, and other hazards remain throughout the fire footprint for the foreseeable time.
Any public donations intended to support responding agencies should be coordinated directly through local volunteer fire departments, Pack said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and federal law enforcement is assisting with the investigation, according to Emergency Management.
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Scott Rains has more than 30 years in the Oklahoma newspaper industry as a pressman, weekly newspaper publisher and with more than 20 years as an award-winning police, court, fire, Native Affairs, local music columnist and roller derby reporter for The Lawton Constitution where he serves as assistant editor. He can be reached at scott.rains@swoknews.com.