Oklahoma Firefighting Teams Deploy to Kansas to Support Ongoing Response

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 19, 2026) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) announced that Oklahoma is sending three wildland fire task forces to Kansas to assist with wildfires in southwest Kansas near Ashland.

The task forces are made up of fire departments from Major County, Noble County, and Washington County and include a total of 32 firefighters, 15 brush trucks, and one tender. They are deploying in response to Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) requests from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management. The Washington County Task Force deployed this morning and Noble and Woods County Task Forces are in route. The deployment request is for one 12-hour period but could be extended.

“Oklahoma is ready to extend the Oklahoma standard as communities respond to these fires,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is activated and is deploying resources to assist local partners in need. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as needed.”

EMAC is a national mutual aid system that allows states to send personnel, equipment and commodities to help disaster relief efforts in other states. The state-to-state system was developed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and was established in 1996. In recent years, Oklahoma has sent state, local and tribal personnel to support EMAC requests in California, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Personnel from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, and New York have also deployed through EMAC to assist Oklahoma with response and recovery efforts in recent years.

“EMAC allows states to quickly share resources when they’re needed most, and we’re grateful our county partners are answering the call to support Kansas,” said OEM Director Annie Mack Vest.

OEM continues to monitor additional requests from the affected area. Further support may be deployed if needed.

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