Norman firefighter dies, two climbers rescued at Wildlife Refuge

CACHE — A Norman firefighter died in a rock climbing incident Friday at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Levi Wilkins, 36, died Friday following a rock climbing accident, according to the Norman Fire Department. He had previously battled Stage 4 kidney cancer in 2019 and returned to duty the next year. He was remembered on the department’s Facebook page as a man who lived “to the fullest every day and everyone who knew him, loved him.”

Rescuers sprung into action at 12:24 p.m. Friday when Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge staff, Indiahoma Volunteer Fire Department, Cache Fire Department, Lawton Fire Department, Comanche Nation Fire Department and Fort Sill Fire Department responded to the report of a climber who had suffered a fall near the Narrows Trail, according to a press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region.

A half hour later, first responders initiated a high angle rescue operation to rescue two climbers, one of whom appeared to have suffered a medical emergency. Wilkins was not alive when responders arrived.

Rescuers continued operations with the support of Oklahoma Air National Guard, Air Evace, Comanche County/Lawton Emergency Management, and the Red Cross, according to a statement from Fish & Wildlife.

Lawton Fire Chief Jared Williams said the firefighters under his command finished operations soon after 7 p.m. and after rescuing the two other climbers.

Williams said the location for the rescue operation at the Narrows Trail and Climbing Area near Prairie Creek at the Refuge made his firefighters and Fort Sill’s join forces to build different raising and lowering rope systems with advanced rescue gear to overcome the challenge. He said the combination of rescuers, including training instructors, offered a boon to the safest rescue possible.

“It’s a great climbing place and sometimes things go wrong,” he said. “They were pretty fortunate we have a good group of guys who responded. Having people not only proficient but teaching others in that situation is a huge plus.”

Along with the firefighters, Williams said a couple of paramedics helped with patient and rescuer care.

“They were tired,” he said, “but just like we do at a fire scene is we rehab at the scene.”

While a fellow firefighter was lost, Williams said he was proud all others, including the rescuers, returned to ground safely. Wilkins’ death hit hardest due to the firefighter bond.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and Norman Fire Department,” he said.

Williams said the Wildlife Refuge did “a great job” running the incident and for calling for assistance when they did. He said the refuge offers great opportunities for visitors, but that danger is present.

“It was a great team effort all in all,” he said. “Any time they need assistance, we’re happy to help them.”