Osage Firefighter Honored at the 97thOscars; Reflects on Service and Tribal Advocacy

At the 97th Oscars, firefighter Jake Heflin, an Osage tribal member, was honored on stage by host Conan O’Brien for his service in battling the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles. Heflin, who has been a firefighter for 25 years, is currently the battalion chief for the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD). During the wildfires, he served as a captain and public information officer.

From January 7th to the end of the month, Heflin's role was to provide accurate and timely information to the public. He described the emotional toll of witnessing "the significant and profound loss" of homes, noting that it was particularly difficult to see people return to sort through their belongings. Though his own home was safe, he knew people who had lost everything. This experience, along with his disaster psychology training and years on the fire department's peer support team, allows him to empathize with fire victims.

At the Oscars and the Critics Choice Awards, Heflin had conversations with people affected by the fires. He recalled encouraging a family whose home was the only one left standing in their neighborhood to open it up to the community. He said, "So they know that [the community] can return and that their home is a testimony to the strength and resiliency of that neighborhood."

Heflin's concerns during and after the fires went beyond immediate safety. He worried about the long-term health risks for those sifting through rubble. He noted that modern homes contain petroleum-derived synthetics and lithium batteries, which, when burned, produce harmful byproducts like hydrofluoric acid. According to the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), these synthetic materials are more flammable and produce toxic byproducts. A safety bulletin from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that exposure to these byproducts can have delayed effects and increase the risk of cancer. Heflin’s awareness of these dangers motivated his efforts to keep the public informed.

In addition to his firefighting career, Heflin is the founder of the Tribal Emergency Management Association (iTEMA). He advocates for better resources for Native people, especially in fire prevention and emergency response. He noted that while tribes like the Tongva have successful controlled burn programs, non-Native government leaders have been slow to accept and respect these practices.

After the wildfires, Heflin was promoted to battalion chief. He continues to advocate for higher standards of safety and care in emergency response. According to Osage Nation Emergency Management Director Bobby Tallchief, Heflin was instrumental in creating the Osage Nation Wildland Fire and Emergency Management programs, a goal he pursued while running for Osage Nation Congress in 2010.

Heflin and Tallchief both agree on the need for more emergency resources for the Osage Nation. However, Heflin noted that securing these services is politically challenging, with questions often raised about funding. Tallchief mentioned that conversations are ongoing about expanding services to Osages living off the reservation, but they haven't reached that point yet. The Nation’s limited resources were evident during 15 fires that occurred on the Osage Reservation in March, where the response team had to focus on one major fire near Pawhuska.

Neither Tallchief nor Heflin have heard of any Osage citizens being directly affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires, but they stressed that the Osage Nation has a program through Constituent Services to provide assistance to Osages worldwide who have undergone disasters. They urged Osages to report their unmet needs to the tribe.

Heflin's advocacy work has connected him deeply with the Osage Nation. He credits his 2010 run for tribal Congress with strengthening his ties to Osage County, a connection he had already begun by getting named and dancing in the Illonshka. His great-great-grandfather, Walter Lombard, served as a U.S. Indian Police officer, a legacy of service that Heflin holds dear.

Heflin frequently speaks to tribes across the country about the importance of emergency services. He finds it unacceptable that people might have to wait an hour for an ambulance during a medical emergency. "When you’re waiting on 45 minutes to an hour for an ambulance and you’re having a heart attack, that to me is unacceptable," he said. Heflin is a former director of tribal affairs for the California State Firefighters’ Association and a former FEMA emergency management instructor, with a strong background in advocating at the state, federal, and tribal levels.

Tallchief stated that Osage citizens can call Constituent Services to receive immediate and financial aid, as well as assistance with FEMA paperwork. “Osages are worldwide,” Tallchief said.

“We’ve got them in every corner of the world and if we don’t know about something going on in their area, they’re just kind of out there. … Give us a call.”

Heflin said he could see himself running for Congress again, with a focus on caring for the people.

“At the cornerstone of our sovereignty is taking care of our people,” Heflin said. “Without the proper emergency services, how do we take care of our people? We could take care of our people and have these great resources in place but in an emergency [if] we’re not able to rally and meet the needs of the community, I think we fall short.”