08/31/2026
Yesterday afternoon, Prue Fire Department responded to a grass and wooded-area fire that had burned approximately 15 acres.
The fire was reportedly believed to have started the day before, but it was not reported until the following afternoon when someone on a boat at the lake spotted smoke and called it in.
Access to the fire was extremely limited. Fire trucks could not reach the fire, so crews from Prue, Basin, Keystone, Green Country, and Osage Nation had to hike in and begin working the fire with hand tools.
Crews initially cut a fire line by hand, but when that line did not hold crews brought in a bulldozer to cut a wider and stronger fire line. That equipment made a major difference in helping crews contain the fire.
Firefighters spent approximately six hours working through thick vegetation, difficult terrain, and limited access to bring the fire under control and finish extinguishing hot spots.
We want to give a huge thank you to Basin Fire Department, Keystone Volunteer Fire Department, Green Country Volunteer Fire , and Osage Nation Wildland Fire for the manpower, equipment, and teamwork. Rural fire service depends heavily on mutual aid, and this incident was a great example of departments coming together and doing whatever it took to get the job done.
This is also an important reminder: if you see smoke or fire, please report it. Even if you are unsure where it is coming from, an early call can make a major difference in how far a fire spreads and how difficult it becomes to contain.
We are thankful everyone went home safe and grateful for every firefighter who put in the work on this one.
