Duty of Care

On Monday, September 7, 2026, Wellston Fire Department Firefighter Joe Flake suffered a medical emergency while assisting crews at a large grass fire in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, that also involved a structure. He was transported to a hospital and died later that evening.

Lincoln County Emergency Management said crews "experienced an incident within an incident with a mayday call broadcast" when a firefighter experienced a medical emergency. Wellston Fire Chief Todd Beesley said aid was rendered immediately and Flake was moved to the ambulance quickly.

The Wellston Fire Department said Flake had joined the department about four months earlier after retiring as a truck driver, wanting to continue serving his community. Multiple agencies responded to the fire, which burned around 260 acres according to local reporting. The nature of the medical emergency was not publicly detailed in initial statements.

For fire crews, extended grass and WUI fires combine heat, exertion, and PPE stress. Rotate through rehab, hydrate, maintain crew accountability, and call the mayday early when a member is in medical trouble.

• KOCO 5
• USFA Firefighter Fatality Notice