L&T STAFF OPINION

One month ago, fires were threatening to engulf Liberal on three sides.

The Seward County Fire Department headed by Chief Andrew Barkley jumped into action, but the effort to prepare for that fateful day began days, even weeks, before.

Barkley started to coordinate efforts with other emergency responders the week before, and he reached out to the media days before the fire started to consume acre after acre to help get the word out about how conditions were ideal for a wildfire and how every effort should be made to not ignite anything until the conditions changed.

Barkley’s fears were realized when calls form the Oklahoma Panhandle started to pour in — fires were spreading and headed toward Seward County.

Barkley saw the threat before it started and already had a plan in place to address the challenge.

As both the Seward County Fire Chief and the Emergency Management Director, he had a response ready to roll, and that quick action coupled with his crew hit the ground.

Add in to that the City of Liberal Fire Department and other area fire departments, and all hands were on deck to minimize the damage.

While some were fighting the blaze, others with the Seward County Sheriff’s Department were evacuating those in the path of the fires.

Farmers and ag-related businesses pitched in by running discs in the fields to help create breaks, and what could have been a disaster if it reached the City of Liberal was contained to the open fields outside the city.

It wasn’t a perfect day. Two families in rural Seward County saw their properties burn to the ground. Even the best effort to fight a wildfire can’t protect everyone. The amount of equipment can limit a response not to mention the natural challenges of wind.

But for what could have happened and what actually happened, Seward County was fortunate the damage was not worse.

Chief Barkley deserves thanks, along with everyone else who was part of the planned effort to head off what could have ended with a scorched city.

It didn’t, and that effort was led by Chief Barkley.

While Seward County will search for a permanent chief because of what we believe was undue administrative and elective interference in his attempt to do his job, we cannot overlook the results of being prepared, having a plan, and carrying it out to the best of his ability.

We wish Barkley well as he moves beyond the Seward County Fire Department, and we say thank you for protecting our homes to the best of your ability, and by preventing any loss of life.

Chief Barkley, we say job well done.