LAWTON, Okla. — Tuesday’s Lawton City Council meeting was relocated to a downstairs room after electrical issues cut power to the dais and main chamber on Oct. 28, 2025. Despite the disruption, the council completed its agenda, including discussion of a Lawton Fire Department plan to hold a mutual-aid transport license so the city can field two ambulances during mass-casualty or other large-scale incidents.
In an email Thursday, Fire Chief Jared Williams said the initial license cost is $600, expected annually, and LFD does not anticipate new capital costs for training or equipment. “We already possess all necessary resources,” he wrote, adding that no increase to the medical supply budget is expected if the mutual-aid transport license is granted. “The mutual aid concept would not require any additional licensure or personnel beyond our current staffing,” Williams said.
Williams emphasized the city is not exploring a purchase or formal partnership with current ambulance providers. “We have no interest in purchasing Kirks EMS or CCMH EMS,” he wrote. “Both providers are doing an excellent job meeting Lawton’s daily EMS needs. Our intent is solely to supplement their operations during an unexpected mass casualty or similar large-scale incident.”
Regarding where the units would live and how they’d be staffed, Williams said one unit is staffed daily from Fire Station 4 on Cache Road as a REHAB unit for firefighter support and can respond when Engine 4 is tied up. A second unit is housed at Fire Station 1 and would be cross-staffed by the Ladder 1 crew when needed.
Williams also noted that citizens have already funded limited transport-ready equipment: “Before my tenure as Fire Chief, two EMS cots were purchased—the only items acquired specifically with patient transport in mind. We also own two ambulances, which currently serve as REHAB units.”
The City Council created an Ad-Hoc committee to explore this issue further.
Wedgewood: Wedgewood is a platted addition located in the county but fully surrounded by the City of Lawton. Utilities Director Rusty Whisenhut told councilors the area’s rural water district is more than $25,000 in arrears. Although residents have been paying their individual bills, usage recorded at the master meter exceeded paid consumption, suggesting losses or unbilled draw—potentially from unknown taps or failing infrastructure. Whisenhut proposed running a new 4-inch water main to serve the seven households, with each resident entering an individual water-purchase agreement with the City. The council rejected the proposal and directed staff to terminate service to the addition consistent with standard procedures for delinquent water customers.
FISTA & Firehawk: Dr. Krista Ratliff reported that FISTA is over capacity at the Lawton Mall and must undertake electrical upgrades to support current and incoming tenants. She noted 20+ companies that previously had no Oklahoma footprint are now operating inside the FISTA center, underscoring the project’s importance to Lawton given its close ties to Fort Sill and the broader community. In separate action, the Council approved Firehawk’s binding site plan. As Christie James explained, a binding site plan restricts property use to the agreed-upon purposes; any future change in use would have to return to the Council for approval.
Editor’s note: The Lawton Town Crier captured a full replay with improved audio and chapter markers for public reference.d replay with improved audio for public reference.
Correction (Oct. 30, 2025): Two updates were made to this story. (1) A line was added noting the creation of an ad hoc committee by the Council. (2) An earlier version misidentified Christie James as the City Attorney; the story has been updated to reflect her correct title. The Lawton Town Crier regrets the errors and posts this notice to ensure transparency in our reporting.