The Beckham County fire departments and beyond were engulfed in shock and grief when news broke on Thursday morning of the tragic death of a local volunteer firefighter.
Tributes to 42-year-old Colter Jake Vaught were posted to social media almost simultaneously. Hundreds of people — friends, strangers, acquaintances, and fellow firefighters — changed their profile pictures to images of Vaught’s badge number.
Vaught was currently serving with the Delhi Volunteer Fire Department. However, those in the firefighter community noted that he had dedicated himself to the fire departments in every community where he lived and regularly donated his time and money to departments in other areas.
“It didn’t matter where the fire was or how long it went, how tired we were, Colter stayed until it was done,” remembered Carter Fire Department Chief Chad Rippetoe. “He cared about the people he was serving with and the homes and livestock standing in that fire’s path. The man had no quit in him.”
Though Vaught was currently listed as a Sayre resident, he had called several parts of Beckham County home in his short forty-two years. His origin story started in Carter’s farming and agricultural community, where family and hard work were an ethos handed to him at birth. His colleagues now all say those values were reflected in his firefighting skills.
Vaught began his commitment to public service with the Carter Fire Department but also joined the Erick Fire Department when living in that community.
At the time of his death, he was on Delhi Fire Department.
“I don’t know the exact date, but I would say he was with us for the last fifteen years,” said Delhi Fire Chief Bandy Silk. “It didn’t matter where he lived, though. Colter was always going to be on our roster because Colter was always going to answer the call. We have had calls from as far away as Oklahoma City giving condolences. Colter was memorable and larger than life. All the area fire departments have reached out. I mean, you really couldn’t find a better guy.”
Rippetoe echoed that sentiment. “Heroes never die. That is what I will say about Colter,” Rippetoe said. “I will be talking about things he did for us until I die. Irreplaceable — that is what Colter was. There won’t be another one like him. Volunteer firemen don’t get paid for this, and it often costs us our own money sometimes. That never bothered Colter. You couldn’t find a more loyal and dedicated hero. I know I have said that word over and over again, but it is who he was. He would go in safely but also had a mission to get that fire out. His boots stayed moving until it was.”
Elk City Fire Chief Kyle Chervenka, a veteran in the field, said Vaught reminded him of the firefighters he started with.
“Colter was a guy I looked up to. I still do. I have been on many fire lines with the guy, and it was always a great relief to know he was there. He was an expert working on the trucks. I doubt there are any fire departments out here where Colter didn’t volunteer to work on their trucks so we could all be best prepared for when those fires break out,” Chervenkta explained.
Silk added, “Colter was the most dedicated fireman I have seen in the last twenty years. He just went and did. He didn’t wait for a fire meeting to work on the trucks. If he didn’t have his kids — and he was a great father — he was working on the trucks. We have one in particular that he is known for. It is big and orange. We call it Pistol Pete. It is a Freight Liner that Colter built himself on his own time. Other firefighters would just fall in line when he showed up because they knew he was there to fight fire. I could talk for hours about him. There’s no start or end to call the good things about Colter. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He was fearless and loved his kids with all his heart. He was ornery and would let you know he was there if you needed anything. We will probably try to fill his big boots for years, but I know it will never be done.”
