Kevin Stitt

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislative leaders on Thursday panned Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposal to eliminate the state Forestry Service after the Republican criticized its response to wildfires last month. The legislative remarks came a day after Stitt told reporters he wanted to axe the agency amid frustrations about its response to wind-fueled wildfires that ripped through parts of the state, damaging or destroying over 400 homes. …He later fired Mark Goeller, the head of the Oklahoma Forestry Service. …The agency is responsible for preserving the state’s forests and is the primary state body responsible for wildland fire detection, prevention and suppression. …Stitt suggested getting rid of the Oklahoma Forestry Service or giving a portion of the funds directly to local fire departments. …“It sounds like a really bad idea to me,” said Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, a longtime volunteer fire firefighter.