Road grader is overrun by a wildfire in Oklahoma; reporters shoot video and save the operator

In case you missed it in Tuesday’s article about the wildfires in northwest Oklahoma, a road grader operator had a VERY, VERY close call trying to put in a control line around a fire. Here’s what we wrote yesterday:

grader overrun by fire
Screen shot from News9 video of road grader being overrun by wildfire in Oklahoma.

I just watched a replay on NEWS9.com of a road grader that had been putting in fire line get stuck as it tried to go up a slope to get on a road. The operator spent several seconds trying to get the machinery unstuck as the fire bore down. The flames were actually impinging on the grader as the operator jumped out the door and ran over to a reporter’s vehicle and got inside. By then the flames were pouring over the hood of that vehicle as the reporter quickly backed away, as if he was driving away from a tornado, he said. Apparently the grader operator was not injured.

Below is the video of the grader burnover.

News9.com – Oklahoma City, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment.

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

2 thoughts on “Road grader is overrun by a wildfire in Oklahoma; reporters shoot video and save the operator”

  1. I’m not one to Monday morning quarterback tactics, as I wasn’t at the scene, nor am I qualified to be an incident commander, but people will probably interpret this comment to be that. Does anyone know if this blade was assigned as a dozer or was the operator just “helping out” ?

    0
    0
    1. Judging by the lack of safety gear (nomex), I would think a good samaritan trying to help out. Lucky to get out in time, and hopefully just scorched paint on the grader.

      0
      0

Comments are closed.