This group is responsible for City inter-department coordination as well as liaison with all outside agencies. The Operations Chief will normally be either the Chief of Police or the Fire Chief, depending on the nature of the situation. This center is not staffed until required, but the necessary equipment is maintained on a continual basis. Activation and response drills are held on a frequent basis. In our part of Oklahoma, we have a somewhat unique wildland fire problem.
Fuels consist of mainly prairie grass with some brush and timber.
In most parts of the U.S. fuel load in a grass fire will be 1,000 to 2,000 lb. per acre. Grass fuel loads here will sometimes be 6,000 to 10,000 lb. per acre. Intermixed with this heavy fuel load are Eastern Red Cedar trees. These cedar trees will burn explosively if subjected to drought conditions. Burning embers will sometimes travel over 1,000 feet or more.