Oklahoma County to Hold Wildfire Training Exercise

A town and county in eastern Oklahoma are teaming up to prepare emergency responders for wildfire outbreaks.

The McAlester News-Capital reports the McAlester Police Department and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office will participate Saturday in a large scale exercise conducted by the Office of Emergency Management. Many local fire departments will also take part.

The realistic drill will better prepare emergency responders for fires that have broken out in the area due to drought and high temperatures.

The deputy director of the emergency management department says the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Command One, the Red Cross, the health department and other local agencies will also be present.

He says his office conducts a full-scale exercise annually in an effort to find ways to more effectively serve the public.