Flanked by firefighters from across the state, including some from Sequoyah County, Henry signed into law an assistance package providing nearly $9 million for the state's fire departments.
Fire department coffers have been drained dry by an ongoing drought, which has left eastern Oklahoma nearly 20 inches behind in rainfall, and the resulting wildfires.
State Rep. Glen "Bud" Smithson (D-Sallisaw) said Tuesday the money will be distributed through what are known as "cogs" in the state. In eastern Oklahoma the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD) in Muskogee will be the cog and distribute the funds as soon as possible.
In addition to the drought, the state now faces the usual wildfire season while fire departments, many of which are in rural areas and manned by volunteers, have run out of money and equipment fighting the wildfires caused by the drought.
Henry said, when signing SB 1190 into law, "This measure brings much-needed aid to the firefighters who have acted with true heroism battling wildfires over the past several months. SB 1190 is a testament to the power of bipartisanship and reflective of Oklahoma's appreciation for our brave firefighters."
Henry added that more must be done for firefighters.
"These men and women who routinely put themselves at risk deserve our full commitment to give them the resources they need to get the job done while ensuring their own protection," Henry said. "It is absolutely critical that we provide better funding, equipment and training for our firefighters."
Henry also urged lawmakers to concentrate on related emergency funding, Earlier this year he requested additional funds for state firefighting efforts when he unveiled his "Operation Firewall" initiative. The program called for $16.5 million in new funds for firefighting equipment, training and volunteer fire department grants, among other things.
Henry has also proposed a $12 million deposit in the now-empty State Emergency Fund.
Smithson added, "We have another bill which we're trying to add some equipment for the fire departments."
SB 1190 "went through the way we wanted it to," Smithson said. "And we had four firefighters from the county at the capital for the signing."
Smithson said a key feature of SB 1190 nearly doubles operational grants for rural fire departments at a cost of about $4.5 million. Under the plan rural fire departments would receive operational grants in a full payment immediately. Additionally, SB 1190 was amended with a Democrat proposal to offer $5,000 death benefit to families of firefighters who perish in the line of duty, which would offset funeral expenses.
Smithson said rural fire departments receive about $2,800 annually in operational grants, and SB 1190 raises that to about $5,000 annually.
Because of the drought and wildfires, rural volunteer fire departments especially have been trying to fight fires with outdated and broken-down equipment and paying for gas out of their own pockets.
In addition to the doubling of operational grants, SB 1190 also includes $2 million to replace and repair ruined or broken-down equipment.
Another provision of the plan allocates about $1 million so the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture can increase the cap on reimbursement amounts that rural fire departments can apply for from the department's fire cost recovery fund.
Rural firefighters from Sequoyah County and other counties traveled to the state capitol to hear the debate on rural firefighter funding in March. Smithson said local firefighters from Liberty, Redland, Nicut and Muldrow were on hand.
"Our county was one of the best represented in the state," Smithson said. "I was very proud of them."
