US News
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer dies during Oklahoma wildfire evacuation
Federal authorities believe David Taylor died while helping residents evacuate the Railroad South Fire in Comanche County.
The short version
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer David Taylor, 38, is believed to have died while assisting door-to-door evacuations during an Oklahoma wildfire on Saturday.
- Taylor was assisting a family when he made his final contact with emergency dispatch.
- Evacuation orders for the Railroad South Fire have been lifted, while state flags in Oklahoma will fly at half-staff in Taylor's honor.
- Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the wildfire.
Key facts
- Officer David Taylor made his last contact with dispatch while assisting a family with evacuations during the Railroad South Fire in Comanche County, Oklahoma.[Fox News]
- Authorities concluded Taylor died during the evacuation effort after recovering evidence from a structure.[Fox News]
- Taylor served at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and was a 20-year Navy Reserve veteran.[Fox News]
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt ordered flags on state property to fly at half-staff from September 1 through September 4.[Fox News]
- Evacuation orders associated with the Railroad South Fire have since been lifted.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The specific cause of the Railroad South Fire remains under official investigation.[Fox News]