Agencies helping with Oklahoma wildfire relief

Firefighters are still battling flames across several different wildfires in Oklahoma, but the area’s ranchers have immediate concerns now for the livestock they’ve been able to save. 

Hay, supplemental livestock feed, milk replacer

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is organizing donations of fencing supplies, hay, supplemental livestock feed and milk replacer for calves that lost their mothers.

Anyone impacted by the fires and in need of these items may call Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension at

• 405-590-0106,

• 405-496-9329 or

• 405-397-7912.

Anyone who would like to donate the items listed above may also the numbers above to offer donations. They will match up people who have items or services to donate with producers needing help to rebuild fences, transport hay and similar farm and ranch activities. Please call ahead before starting out with loads of supplies so that donations are coordinated efficiently.

Cash donations

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has a list of relief funds currently gathering cash donations:

• Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation: Make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation with “Fire Relief” in the memo line and mail to P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148 or donate online at www.okcattlemen.org

• Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Foundation: Make checks payable to the Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Foundation with “Wildfire Relief” in the memo line and mail to 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 or donate online at www.okfarmingandranching.org

• Oklahoma Farmers Union Foundation: Make checks payable to Farmers Union Foundation, Inc., with “Wildfire Relief” in the memo line and mail to the attention of Wildfire Relief at P.O. Box 24000, Oklahoma City, OK 73124.

 Cash donations to reputable funds and voluntary organizations allow those relief organizations and survivors to purchase what they need, when and where they need it. Buying supplies from local communities also helps the communities recover with local business revenues, salaries and taxes staying the community.

Volunteer fire departments

It’s been reported that fire departments in some smaller Oklahoma communities need donations to keep trucks and equipment deployed. The length of these deployments are stretching budgets and equipment to their limits. Contact local fire departments directly to see what those needs are before donating.

Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached at 620-227-1807 or [email protected].