White Oak Fire questions dispatch response to crash on Highway 431
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- White Oak Fire Department not initially dispatched to April 10 Highway 431 crash in its jurisdiction despite six injuries.
- Department claims earlier notification could have enabled faster life-saving measures; dispatch has not officially responded to concerns.
The White Oak Volunteer Fire Department is raising concerns after a crash on April 10, 2026, on Highway 431 at County Road 40, saying the department was not initially dispatched to the scene despite it being within its jurisdiction.
In a public statement, the department said it did not receive a page for the accident and that Chief Gustat has been working to determine why White Oak Fire was not notified when the crash first occurred.
According to the department, Bakerhill Rescue was dispatched to the scene and later requested that White Oak Fire be paged. White Oak Fire claimed no fire department was dispatched until later as the situation became more chaotic.
The crash left six people injured leading to a multiple ambulance and two medical helicopter response.
On social media, the department urged community members to contact their county commissioner and voice concerns, saying earlier notification could have allowed life-saving measures to begin sooner.
At this time, no official response has been released from dispatch or county officials regarding the department’s concerns.
