Ingalls Fire Department

08/29/2026

Today, at approximately 10:47 a.m., Ingalls Fire was requested to assist Glencoe Fire Department with a brush fire just north of the Cimarron Turnpike. The fire originated along the turnpike shoulder and spread into an adjacent hay meadow that had recently been baled.

Ingalls Brush 4 responded for mutual aid alongside units from Glencoe, Pawnee, Maramec, Ripley, and Morrison, as well as Payne County Emergency Management, OHP, and county sheriff’s units.

Crews were able to contain the fire to approximately 15 acres, including highway right-of-way, hay meadow, several hay bales, and light tree cover.

Local landowners and farmers also assisted by moving hay bales out of the fire area, helping protect additional property and assisting the landowner.

Ingalls cleared the scene and returned to the station at approximately 1:07 p.m.

We appreciate all of the agencies, landowners, and community members who worked together to quickly contain the fire and protect the surrounding area.

Glencoe Fire Department
Ripley Fire Dept
Payne County Emergency Management
Maramec Fire Department
Morrison Volunteer Fire Department
Pawnee Fire Department

08/13/2026

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (13 Aug. 2026)

Update on Lieutenant Joshua Contreras

STILLWATER, OK — The Ingalls Fire Department is pleased to share that Lieutenant Joshua Contreras has been released from the hospital and will continue his recovery at home with his family.

Josh is extremely appreciative of the overwhelming support, prayers, and encouragement he and his family have received from the community, fellow firefighters, friends, and others throughout the past several days.

While Josh has a long road ahead, we are encouraged by his progress. Despite the significant injuries he sustained in the crash, he is currently able to walk, and all four extremities are functioning as expected. He remains significantly bruised and is recovering from several broken vertebrae in his neck and back, several broken ribs, and a broken nose.

His recovery will be long and slow, but we remain hopeful that over the coming months Josh will continue to make progress and ultimately return to full health.

Josh’s wife, Dena, and their two children will be by his side as he begins this next phase of recovery at home. The Ingalls Fire Department will continue to support Josh and his family throughout his recovery.

Support for Josh and His Family

A GoFundMe has been established to help Josh and his family with the expenses associated with his recovery and time away from work. Those wishing to support them can do so here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ingalls-firefighters-after-tanker-accident

The Ingalls Fire Department sincerely thanks everyone who has continued to pray for Josh, Jace, and their families. The outpouring of support has meant more than we can express.

This will be the final update from the Ingalls Fire Department on this incident for the foreseeable future. We respectfully ask that the community continue to keep Josh, Jace, and their families in your thoughts and prayers while also respecting the privacy of the firefighters and their families as they focus on recovery and healing.

On August 6, Lieutenant Joshua Contreras and Firefighter Jace Wilso… Sarah Jeffrey needs your support for Support Ingalls Firefighters After Tanker Accident

08/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2026

Update on Ingalls Firefighters Following August 6, 2026 Apparatus Crash

STILLWATER, OK — The Ingalls Fire Department and Payne County are providing an update regarding Lieutenant Joshua Contreras and Firefighter Jace Wilson following yesterday’s vehicle crash.

Firefighter Wilson was released today following an overnight evaluation. Jace, a Tuttle, Oklahoma, native and aviation student at Oklahoma State University, joined the Ingalls Fire Department this past year. During his time with the department, he has quickly become a valued member of the team and is known by his fellow firefighters as an eager, hardworking young man who is excited to serve others. We are grateful to see him home and ask the community to continue to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers as he recovers.

Lieutenant Joshua Contreras remains hospitalized and is undergoing further evaluation today to determine the full extent of his injuries. Lieutenant Contreras has sustained fractures to several vertebrae in his spine and neck, as well as a fractured nose. While his injuries are significant, he is currently stable and in good spirits. His medical team continues to evaluate his condition and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Josh has been a member of the Ingalls Fire Department for the past eight years. He was promoted to Lieutenant within the last year in recognition of his dedication to the department and his commitment to developing the next generation of firefighters through his work with the department’s Student Section, which is made up primarily of Oklahoma State University students.

Outside of the fire department, Josh is the proud owner of The Letterman Barbershop in Stillwater. He is also a devoted husband to his wife, Dena, and father of two. Dena has been by Josh’s side since he was transported from the scene yesterday, and the department is grateful for the support she and their family have provided throughout his service to our community.

The Ingalls Fire Department and Payne County are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support for these firefighters and their families.

Both Josh and Jace have dedicated their time to
serving others, and we ask that everyone continue to keep them, their families, and the medical teams caring for them in their prayers.

Donations to Support the Firefighters and Their Families

Those wishing to support Firefighters Contreras and Wilson and their families may make donations to the Ingalls Fire Department.

Online:
http://app.joinit.com/o/ingalls-fire-district

By Mail:
Ingalls Fire Department
P.O. Box 2085
Stillwater, OK 74074

In Person:
Payne County Clerk’s Office
315 W. 6th, Suite 202
Stillwater, OK

The Ingalls Fire Department and Payne County sincerely appreciate the continued support of the community during this difficult time.

Please continue to keep Lieutenant Contreras, Firefighter Wilson, their families, and their fellow firefighters in your thoughts and prayers as they begin the road to recovery.

08/06/2026

This afternoon, while returning from providing mutual aid assistance to the Yale Fire Department on a grass fire, Ingalls Fire Department’s Tanker 1 was involved in a serious single-vehicle rollover accident on State Highway 51 near South 3450 Road in Payne County.

According to the preliminary investigation, the apparatus suffered a catastrophic failure of a front steering tire while traveling westbound. Following the tire failure, the fully loaded tanker left the roadway, traveled down an embankment, and rolled multiple times before coming to rest in a wooded area.

Two Ingalls firefighters were onboard the apparatus at the time of the accident. Both firefighters became trapped inside the vehicle. One firefighter was able to be removed with the assistance of Good Samaritans who immediately stopped to help, while the second firefighter was extricated by the Stillwater Fire Department.

One firefighter was transported by helicopter, and the second was transported by ambulance under emergency conditions to a Level I Trauma Center in Tulsa. We are grateful that both firefighters were awake and alert when they left the scene. At this time, both remain in critical condition and are receiving medical care.

Out of respect for the firefighters and their families, their names will not be released at this time.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all of the Good Samaritans who stopped to assist, as well every responding agency and individual whose professionalism and compassion made a difference during this incident.

Tanker 1 was a total loss.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. We ask the public to keep our firefighters, their families, and all members of the Ingalls Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We also respectfully ask that the privacy of those involved be honored as the investigation continues and our firefighters focus on their recovery.

07/27/2026

Yesterday at approximately 12:02 PM, Ingalls Fire Department was dispatched to provide mutual aid to Glencoe Fire Department for a hay baler fire.

The farmer, with assistance from Glencoe’s Fire Chief, was able to safely disconnect the tractor from the baler and save the tractor. Ingalls and Glencoe firefighters then worked together to extinguish the baler, which was unfortunately a total loss.

As hay season gets underway, we remind farmers and agricultural operators that hay fires can start quickly and with little warning. Before operating balers or other hay equipment, make sure you have a properly charged and functioning fire extinguisher readily available alongside your tractor and equipment.

With temperatures expected to remain elevated this week and grasses continuing to dry, fire danger is likely to increase in the coming weeks. Dried grasses and hay can ignite and spread fire rapidly, so please use caution and be prepared.

Thank you Glencoe Fire Department for the opportunity to help assist our neighbors!

07/11/2026

At 1:57 AM this morning, Ingalls Fire Department was dispatched as automatic structure fire mutual aid to assist Glencoe Fire Department with a reported barn fire just south of Glencoe. As additional resources were needed, Ingalls requested assistance from Pawnee Fire Department, Ripley Fire Department, and Stillwater Fire Department.

Ingalls Engine 5-1 was the first suppression apparatus to arrive on scene and, alongside personnel from Glencoe Engine 1, deployed two crosslays to begin an initial attack on the fire. The barn was already heavily involved upon arrival and exhibited significant fire damage and early structural collapse, prompting crews to transition to a defensive strategy for firefighter safety.

When Stillwater Engine 3 arrived a few minutes later, SFD took over suppression operations on the rear of the structure while Ingalls and Glencoe firefighters worked together to open exterior walls and extinguish hard-to-reach hot spots. Crews remained on scene until approximately 4:30 AM completing overhaul operations.

Additional support was provided by Pawnee Fire Chief Troy Choplin, deputies with the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, and EMS personnel from LifeNet Medic 12.

Although the barn sustained extensive damage, we are thankful to report that no people or animals were injured during the incident.

Apparatus and agencies responding included:

* Ingalls Engine 5-1
* Ingalls Tanker 1
* Glencoe Engine 1
* Stillwater Engine 3
* Pawnee Fire Chief
* Payne County Sheriff’s Office
* LifeNet Medic 12

We would also like to thank the Ripley Fire Department and Pawnee Fire Department units that responded toward the incident and were safely returned to service after the initial knockdown was achieved. As always, we are grateful for the teamwork and cooperation among our neighboring departments that helps ensure the best possible outcome for our communities.

Glencoe Fire Department
Ripley Fire Department
Pawnee Fire Department
Stillwater Fire Department
Payne County Sheriff's Office
Ripley Fire Dept

06/30/2026

Yesterday, for the second year in a row, Ingalls Fire was able to participate in Guthrie YMCA’s career day hosted at Meridian Technology, Stillwater. Ingalls firefighters were able to talk to students about firefighting, both as a career option and as a volunteer option, share insight into the role, and allow students to get hands-on experience with the tools of the trade.

All in all, nearly 80 students were able to try on gear, ask questions, learn how to operate a fire extinguisher, and play with the sirens and air horns!

We are grateful for opportunities to give back to our community.

06/17/2026

Today at 4:09 PM, Ingalls Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid to Stillwater Fire Department for a hay bale fire near Highway 51 and Wooten Lane. Ingalls crews were on scene within five minutes of the request.

Ingalls responded with Brush 2, Brush 3, Brush 4, and Tanker 1 to assist with containing the initial fire spread and cooling the large mass of burning hay bales until a tractor could establish a disc line around the fire area.

This marks the second grass fire in the area in the last two days and serves as an important reminder that a little rain does not mean fire season is over. While recent rains have helped green up parts of the landscape, strong winds and warm temperatures can quickly dry fine fuels, allowing fires to spread rapidly through areas that may appear green. Please use caution with outdoor burning and be sure to check any previous burn areas to ensure they have not rekindled.

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide mutual aid to Stillwater Fire Department and assist our neighbors when needed. Stillwater Fire remained on scene to continue monitoring the burning hay bales.

Also assisting on scene were Payne County Emergency Management and Payne County Sheriff's Office.

Thank you to all responding agencies for their teamwork and dedication to protecting Payne County.

05/18/2026

Yesterday, our firefighters had the privilege of participating in a condensed VEIS-style training hosted at the training grounds of the Stillwater Fire Department.

A special thank you to Chief Holly from Stillwater’s training division and to the A-shift firefighters who came out on their own time to support Ingalls Fire Department during this training. Your willingness to invest in us did not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful.

Throughout the afternoon, our team gained valuable, hands-on experience in confined space operations, forcible entry, primary search, and victim removal. Firefighters also sharpened skills with ladders, SCBAs, halligans, pike poles, saws, and our thermal imaging camera in a realistic training environment that is difficult for us to replicate on our own.

Cooperative training with our mutual aid partners, such as Stillwater, is integral to our success as we continue to grow. The instruction was top notch, and access to the SFD training facilities gave our firefighters the opportunity to practice real-world skills that directly translate to better service for our community.

We are thankful for such willing partners and look forward to many more opportunities to train together.

04/18/2026

It was a beautiful day for hose testing at Ingalls Fire Department. Our crews tested every single section of supply and attack hose to ensure they can all function properly and safely maintain up to 400 psi of pressure. Any hose that doesn’t pass is either retired or repaired and retested, depending on the reason for the failure.

In total, over 3/4 of a mile of hose was tested, dried, and repacked, all before 10:30 am. This annual testing helps ensure the equipment we rely on will perform when it matters most.

We even had one section of back-up hose from 1979 that has passed recertification year after year. After an incredible 47-year run, it was decided this would be the year we respectfully retire it.

We are grateful to Kinnunen Sales and Rental for allowing us to use their facilities year after year to complete this important work.