"What's Left is Love": Documentary Captures Town's Resilience Amid Wildfire Crisis
UPDATE: Production extended into summer, community screening will be rescheduled
Community
Editor's note This story has been updated with the following: The subheading has been changed and information about the now-canceled community film screening has been removed.
A new documentary chronicling how the Stillwater community rallied together during devastating wildfires that disrupted The Mid South 2025 endurance event is set for a free public screening next week.
"What's Left is Love," directed by Josh McCullock, documents the 48-hour period when what began as a celebration of movement and community suddenly transformed into a race for safety as high speed winds sparked wildfires across the state.
"This is a story not just about a disaster. It's about the relationships we'll all draw upon most when disaster strikes," says McCullock in his director's statement.
The Mid South, an endurance festival hosting over 4,000 athletes, faced an abrupt cancellation when wildfires threatened the Stillwater area. Race organizers quickly pivoted from managing the event to coordinating evacuations.
"I was shocked how fast the event went from full activation to an abrupt evacuation effort," McCullock notes. "Our cameras kept rolling, even as our crew members assisted with evacuations."
The documentary follows several key figures during the crisis, including Bobby Wintle, The Mid South Race Director, who faced "the hardest day of his life" as he canceled the event, worked to keep participants safe, and grappled with devastating loss in his community.
Crystal Wintle, co-owner of District Bicycles and co-founder of The Mid South, provides perspective on the community's cooperation during the emergency. The husband-wife team demonstrates how small business owners can play crucial roles during community crises.
The film captures harrowing stories of resilience, including that of Trey Nixon, a Mid South volunteer who helped coordinate the 50K ultramarathon portion of the event. When the fires broke out, 600 runners were on course, directly in the path of the fire near Nixon's family home and ranch.
After evacuating runners, Nixon and his family stayed to fight the fire, "eventually resorting to using buckets and narrowly saving the house and barns by using the remaining water from the runners aid station they had hosted."
The documentary also follows Leah Storm, a Lieutenant in the OSU Police Department and Mid South volunteer, who was called away from her race coverage duties to conduct fire evacuations in the hardest-hit areas.
Stillwater Fire Chief Terry Essary's leadership during the firefighting efforts is highlighted as well, showing the coordinated response from official emergency services.
The film also documents how former WorldTour professional racer Ted King transformed his competitive plans into a fundraising effort for the United Way of Payne County. King attempted a fastest known time on the 300-mile Mega Mid South route to raise funds for fire relief.
King and his "surprise opponent" Chase Wark raised $11,000, contributing to over $70,000 in total relief funds generated through Mid South-related efforts.
Ruth Cavins, director of the United Way Payne County, appears in the film discussing the organization's quick response that "led to a successful wave of support for affected Oklahomans."
Stillwater's social fabric proves resilient in face of disaster
McCullock's goal with the documentary extends beyond simply chronicling a disaster. "My goal with this film is to highlight the close connections of Stillwater residents and leaders, illustrating how community health is life saving in a time of escalating climate-driven natural disasters," he explains.
The documentary explores several key themes, including the climate crisis in a small community, cooperation and solidarity, human endurance and adaptation, and the impermanence and fragility of our environments.
Produced by The Mid South with Ovrlnd.Studio, the film credits include direction by Josh McCullock, writing by Kyle Hood, editing by Max Munchinski, color by Colten Sikes, and an original score by Rhett Shull.
The screening offers Stillwater residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect on the community's response to an unexpected climate disaster and the importance of social connections during emergencies.
As climate-driven disasters become more frequent across the country, "What's Left is Love" provides valuable insights into how communities can prepare for and respond to such events, emphasizing that the strength of social fabric can literally save lives.
The documentary serves as both a record of a traumatic community experience and a testament to the resilience and adaptability of small-town America when faced with the growing challenges of climate change.
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