Chat With The Chief: Fire preperation

Fires can happen at any moment, which is why it is important to be prepared for any situation.

On Friday, the News 9 team spoke with Oklahoma City Fire Department Chief Richard Kelley to learn how his department prepares.

Q: With large wildfires burning in California, what is the risk for wildfires here in Oklahoma?

Kelley: We definitely have some risk here in Oklahoma City, the challenges we have where we have the urban interface, and you hear that a lot of wild and urban interface, and that's where the residential areas start moving into the outlying areas of the city. You have a lot of fuel packages that create that hazard, so we definitely have some risk here in Oklahoma City.

Q: We've seen significant wildfires threaten homes in the last decade or so, do we have the resources to fight something on a large scale like what we've seen in California?

Kelley: In Oklahoma City, we're very fortunate. We have the extreme support of our residents and our city leadership, so we have the resources to manage large-scale incidents. What you're seeing in California is unprecedented, that's extremely challenging for the best organizations that are fully supported and fully capable, but here in Oklahoma City ready to manage a large-scale incident.

Q: Oklahoma City reported a lot of growth in recent years. Have you added to the department's ranks since then?

Kelley: We have seen growth in the city. Our fire department has plans for continuing growth and how we expand, as well as how we continue to serve our community, and that's important for us to look at the future.

Kelley said there are several ways homeowners can remove wildfire risks from their homes:

1. Remove any containers of fuel from the home.
2. Ensure your rain gutters are cleaned.
3. Do not place mulch within five feet of the home.
4. Regularly mow your lawn and clear any fallen branches that could pose a hazard.