Oklahoma Biker - The Riders Ragazine May - Jun 2017 | Page 29

Oaks Leach Fire Run helps restock fire station
By Cheri Pogue
OAKS, Okla. – On December 27, 2016,
a tragedy occurred which impacted many
lives. Two very selfish people broke
into the Leach Volunteer Fire
Department and took the town’s only
fire truck. The thieves then used the
stolen fire truck as a wrecking ball to
enter the Oaks volunteer fire department,
taking their truck as well.
After an all-night joyride, the thieves left
both trucks stripped and destroyed. The
uninsured equipment and supplies were
either missing or unusable, including
the $30,000 “Jaws of Life.” These were
items that the firefighters and town had
purchased out of their own pockets.
27, Sullateskee will host a fire station
recovery run. Registration for the run
begins at 10 a.m. at 5791 U.S. HWY 412
and will end at 2 p.m. in Oaks. A ticket
will be given at each stop to win 1 of 2
free night’s stay at the Cherokee Casino
along with $60 in free play. Poker hands
are $20 for the first hand and $10 for
additional hands. The best hand has a
chance to win up to $2,000! Gatortailz will
be having a raffle and selling hotdogs,
donating their proceeds as well.
Check out ‘Oaks Leach Fire Run’
on Facebook for updates or contact
Randall at [phone] for complete
information.
Nothing stopped Leach fire fighter Mike
Russell from doing his best to aid in
the call of duty. In February of this year
he was servicing a call in the tanker
truck. The fog was thick and visibility
low. After misjudging the road, the truck
flipped and rolled down a ravine costing
this heroic firefighter his life.
Randall Sullateskee has been a
Leach Volunteer Firefighter for more than
10 years. He wants to honor Russell by
replacing the fire station’s needs. On May
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