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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered flags on state property to be flown at half-staff after a volunteer firefighter from Wellston died while responding to a wildfire this week. The order runs through sunset on Sept. 11, touching off a statewide moment of mourning that also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
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The proclamation, issued Wednesday, directs that all flags on state-owned buildings be lowered beginning Sept. 9 and remain at half-staff until the evening of Sept. 11. The action honors Joe Flake, a volunteer member of the Wellston Fire Department who suffered a medical emergency while working to control a large fire and later died.
What officials say
Governor Stitt called Flake’s service to his community “an example of Oklahoma’s character,” and offered prayers for the firefighter’s family and the Wellston community. State officials also noted the flag order will observe the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, a day leaders say remains a national moment to remember first responders and victims.
Local emergency management officials confirmed the timeline: responders were called to a wildfire on Monday, Sept. 7, when one firefighter experienced a medical emergency and was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities announced later that day that the firefighter had died from his injuries.
The Wellston Fire Department said Flake had joined the volunteer ranks about four months earlier after retiring from a career as a truck driver. According to the department, he volunteered to continue serving his community in retirement.
- Who: Joe Flake, volunteer firefighter, Wellston, Oklahoma
- Incident: Medical emergency while responding to a wildfire on Sept. 7
- Flag order: All flags on state property lowered from Sept. 9 until sunset Sept. 11
- Context: Order overlaps with the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001
Local response and community impact
Lincoln County Emergency Management posted a message expressing deep sorrow and asking residents to keep the department, the fallen firefighter’s family, and assisting agencies in their thoughts. Small volunteer departments often rely on recently retired residents and part-time responders, so the loss reverberates through tight-knit communities where colleagues frequently work side-by-side.
The flag lowering is both a statewide symbol of respect and a reminder of the risks faced by volunteer and career firefighters. For Wellston, the gesture underscores a collective loss; for the state, it aligns remembrance of an individual fallen in the line of duty with a broader day of national memory.
Officials have not released further personal details about Flake’s age or funeral arrangements. Local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the wildfire response and the medical emergency that led to his hospitalization.
