02/08/2026
Last night was a tragic night for our small town. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the accident, and we ask the entire community to keep those families in your prayers in the days ahead.
On behalf of the Avant Fire Department, I want to extend a sincere thank you to all of the agencies that responded and worked together during this difficult call. The teamwork, professionalism, and support shown by every department involved truly reflects the strength of our emergency services and the communities we serve.
We are grateful for each and every responder who answered the call and stood beside us last night.
โ Chief Kohler
Avant Fire Department
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
๐ง๐๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐
AVANT, OK โ The Osage County Sheriffโs Office is investigating a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two juvenile boys, ages 8 and 9, after they fell through the ice on Bird Creek Saturday.
At approximately 7:13 p.m., the Sheriffโs Office received a 911 call reporting that residents and first responders had located the first victim in the water near the bank of Bird Creek in Avant. The child was immediately removed from the water, and lifesaving measures were initiated. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Search efforts quickly intensified for the second juvenile, leading responders to an area of broken ice on a large section of the creek. Dozens of emergency personnel worked for several hours utilizing ground teams, aerial drones, a specialized rescue boat, and dive teams. At approximately 11:30 p.m., the second victim was located and recovered.
The Osage County Sheriffโs Office extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Avant community during this unimaginable loss. Incidents involving children are among the most difficult situations first responders face, and this tragedy has deeply impacted everyone involved.
We are profoundly grateful to the many agencies that responded with urgency and professionalism. Special thanks are extended to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team, Tulsa Fire Departmentโs Oklahoma Task Force One Search and Rescue Team, Avant, Skiatook, and Barnsdall Fire Departments, Survival Flight EMS, and the numerous additional responders who assisted throughout the night.
As winter conditions continue, the Osage County Sheriffโs Office urges the public to avoid walking, playing, or operating vehicles on frozen bodies of water. Ice conditions can be unpredictable and extremely dangerous, even when they appear solid.
This remains an active investigation.
