Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM) Director Mark Gower and OEM’s Operations Planner Shimeka Mack toured the two downtown buildings on Sunday following Saturday’s downtown fire.
The buildings and businesses of Furrow Flowers & Gifts and Double Stop Fiddle Shop were destroyed Saturday morning after a fire broke out from behind the flower shop. Related article: Flames destroy historic downtown buildings
“What a loss for the city of Guthrie and the State of Oklahoma,” Gower said as he stood and watched light smoke coming out from the Double Stop Fiddle Shop. “Knowing the history that’s in Byron’s shop.”
Gower, who was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt in January, said says he was sadden to watch the flames destroy a piece of Oklahoma history, but says the Oklahoma standard came through.
“The local emergency management, (Logan County Emergency Manager) David Ball, is a tremendous resource. We (OEM) basically stood up behind David and waited to see if there was anything the City of Guthrie needed, or the first responders needed to make sure they had the equipment to support the capacity.”
Ball, along with Guthrie Fire Department Batallion Chief Greg Machtolff, described and explained the scene on Saturday to the OEM officials near the ladder truck that remained on standby in front of the buildings.
“Looks like we had a lot of different departments come together through mutual aid and bringing the resources that the City needed to help with this fire to control and put out,” Gower said.
“Exactly the Oklahoma standard we like to set.”
Both Gower and Mack attended the prayer vigil after touring the buildings.
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