2 weeks Ago
Once again, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov.
Matt Pinnell were missing in action. (Remember the winter storm of 2021?). For several days prior to the wildfire outbreak, weather forecasters were warning that near drought conditions and 60-plus mph winds would produce extreme fire danger during spring break week.
The governor and lieutenant governor left the state anyway. The governor did not declare a statewide burn ban. He did not put the National Guard on standby to assist fire fighters.
I don’t know if the acting governor has these authorities. When the governor returned, he fired the director of the Forestry Service for failing to provide all of the Forestry Service’s assets to firefighters. Perhaps the director was concerned about moving all his personnel away from other potential fire areas or some other reasoning.
He has been doing his job for 40 years. It seems that local firefighters do not hold the same sentiment as the governor. Perhaps a public hearing into the governor’s reasoning and explanations from the Forestry Service are needed.
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The governor should take some wisdom from the sign that stood on the desk of President Harry Truman, “The buck stops here.” Letters to the editor are encouraged. Submit letters at go.
tulsaworld.com/submitletter.
