A federal wildlife officer is believed to have died while helping residents escape a wildfire in Oklahoma, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said over the weekend.
David Taylor, 38, of Scio, Oregon, was assisting with evacuations Saturday as the fast-moving blaze burned south of Oklahoma City, officials said. Working alongside emergency crews, he went door to door to help people get out of danger.
The agency said Taylor’s final communication with dispatch came as he was helping a family leave their home.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service federal wildlife officer David Taylor, 38, is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents from their homes over the weekend during the Railroad South Fire in Oklahoma, the agency said. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
“Everything we know about David’s actions demonstrates extraordinary courage and selflessness,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik said. “When people were in danger, David was there helping them get to safety. He remained committed to protecting others under the most dangerous circumstances. We mourn alongside his family, friends and colleagues, and we will never forget his service.”
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Authorities said evidence found inside a structure led them to believe Taylor died during the evacuation effort.
Taylor was also a senior chief petty officer in the Navy Reserve and had previously served on active duty. Over two decades of naval service, he completed five deployments, including one to Iraq and four to Djibouti.
Before joining the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, Taylor served with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior were coordinating support for Taylor’s family and co-workers, the agency said.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered all American and Oklahoma flags on state property to be flown at half-staff Sept. 1 through Sept. 4 in honor of Taylor.
“Sarah and I are praying for his family, his fellow officers and everyone who was impacted by this tragedy,” he wrote on X. “His courage, selflessness and devotion to protecting others will never be forgotten.”
The Railroad South Fire in Comanche County, Oklahoma, was reported on Saturday. All evacuation orders for residents affected by the wildfire have been lifted.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
