Fire Services
Stilwell Fire Department Station #1
located at 14 West Walnut Street
Stiwell Fire Chief Ken Hill has great expectations for improving training for firefighters and services.
photo by Renee Fite
Ken Hill is passionate about fire fighting. He has served 24 years in fire service, the past nine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He began as the first full-time, paid Stilwell Fire Chief on March 10, 2025.
His first 15 years were spent in Indiana with two fire departments.
“I started fire fighting in 2001, because of 9-11,” he said. “I have a passion for service and love to help others.”
Volunteer firefighters comprise 75 percent of all fire departments in America.
“I know how essential trained, volunteer firefighters are to communities all across America,” Hill said.
A well-trained and certified fire department is a safe, efficient fire department.
“In the area I came from, all firefighters receive full training and are certified before they can work. We train weekly and are always learning how to be better firefighters, with more skills,” said Hill. “My goals are to introduce more training and certifications.”
Another area in which Hill saw a need and found a solution was with an honor guard.
“I founded the County Fire Honor Guard back home after attending several funerals for fallen firemen and noticing there was no honor guard present, and also noticing how firemen attending had trouble composing themselves as well as officiating,” Hill said. “I realized how important the honor guard would be to the county, so I founded it.”
This is an organization that could be started here as well.
Another project that Hill is planning is a youth cadet program for high school juniors and seniors.
“It would help fill out the roster so when they turn 18 they can join if they’re interested,” he said.
Hill was looking to relocate to Oklahoma to learn more about his maternal grandmother’s native roots, when he found the fire chief job advertisement.
“Stilwell looked like just the place to raise my family. My research showed it to be a place where people are caring and family is important,” said Hill.
Family history also is important, and Hill wanted his daughters to learn more about his mother’s side of the family.
“My grandmother, Samuella Jones, from Belzoni, Mississippi and her family, migrated to the Arkansas area. My great uncle, James Hill was the first black Secretary of State of Mississippi. She used to show me pictures of my great grandfather, whose name I want to find out,” said Hill.
His heritage includes Cherokee and Black Fox.
Before he applied for the fire chief position and moved his family across the country, Hill did his research and prayed God’s will regarding the decision.
The Hills - Ken, Megan and daughters Violet, 8 and Melanie,13, moved to Stilwell after a short visit to see the town and meet a few people. When not at work, he enjoys gardening, yard work, building crafts with his family and fishing.
Stilwell firefighters in a training exercise.
Tony Worley provides educational tours of the fire department to school children and goes to city schools for fire safety presentations. Call Tony to make an appointment at 918 696-7412.
Currently there are 21 firefighters on the roster. They respond to all fire related call and motor vehicle accidents within the city limits, and out in the county as needed. They cover from the bottom of Baron Hill to the top of Brushy Mountain on Highway 59 South; West on Highway 100 and Highway 51 from the city limits to the county line; and Highway 100 and 51 east to the state line of Arkansas.
Tony Worley receiving an award from Mayor Jean Anne Wright.
photo by Renee Fite
“We cover a broad area,” said Worley. “We assist at car wrecks,
which can catch fire or may require jaws of life, and fires out to that area. We also respond to search and rescue with the City Police Department and county Sheriff’s Department. We’ve had a possible lost hunter, an older person who wandered from their house and drowning, to help with.”
Worley noted they are not a medical service, but are called out to assist EMS.
“Our guys are CPR trained but we’re not an EMS service, we provide lift assist,” he said.
They also assist rural fire departments with fire calls.
The volunteer firefighters have monthly in house training that includes search and rescue, auto extrication, all things house fire related and running pumps on the trucks.
“We’re here to supply a service and help out,” said Worley.
In 2023 the Stilwell Fire Department fire and
rescue runs:
16 City house fires
31 County house fires
30 City grass fires
46 County house fires
24 City motor vehicle accidents
57 County motor vehicle
accidents
39 City lift assist with EMS
8 County lift assist with EMS
2 City vehicle fires
5 County vehicle fires
18 City fire/smoke alarms
4 County fire/smoke alarms
6 Dumpster fires
3 Storm watch
6 City gas leaks
0 County gas leaks
2 City general rescue/landing zone
2 County general rescue/landing zone
19 Community duty
Total 307 year end runs from January 1 - December 31
How to get a Burn Permit
Burn permits are $10, no charge for citizens 65 and older
- Trash can not be burned in the city limits
- There is no burning after dark
- There is no burning on windy days
- The fire must be at least 25 feet away from any structure or vehicle
- The burn pile must be no bigger than 15 feet in diameter
- A responsible adult must be present at all times during the burning
- You must always have a connected water hose and a hoe, rake or shovel
- Nothing can be brought from other sites to be burned
Stilwell's fire station #2
photo: Renee Fite
Physical Address:
14 W Walnut Street Stilwell, OK 74960
Apply to join Stilwell Fire Department
