"It was probably the biggest fire that I've seen in the last five years," Poteau Fire Captain Don Goforth said Monday (Feb. 22).

Goforth said while all of the department's equipment is up-to-date, not everything went perfectly during last week's grass fire.

"Some of our equipment did break down," he said. "We had to replace an alternator on one of our grass trucks. And one of the grass trucks water pumps broke down, so we did get that fixed."

He said fixing the alternator only cost about $75, but adds it's not the first time they've had to fix something while on the scene.

"It's hard on the vehicles, and it's hard on the fireman, so stuff does break down, but we fix it," he said.

And while Goforth said he can't speak for other departments, he said Poteau firefighters are prepared if any major fires spark in the near future.

Aside from the Poteau Fire Department, Pocola, Monroe, Wister and Hogeye departments all worked the grass fire.

Authorities are investigating after finding a Kellyville Fire Department tanker truck stuck in the mud near Heyburn Lake early Tuesday.

Fire officials said the truck had been parked at fire station #2 down the road. They believe someone broke into the station and stole the military-surplus truck.

It was found at about 4 a.m. near the lake west of I-44 and Kellyville.

The truck carries pumps and two 600-gallon water tanks used in fighting grass fires. Firefighters had to drain the water so it would be easier to get the truck out of the mud. 

No word on how bad the truck was damaged in the incident.

Firefighters say deputies were talking to at least two people they found near the truck. It appears someone drove it through a chain link fence at the fire station.