LAWTON – Hot, dry weather and an increased risk of wildfires prompted the Comanche County Board of Commissioners to approve a countywide burn ban Monday.
The commission voted 3-0 to approve a resolution imposing the ban, which will remain in effect for 14 days and may be extended on a week-to-week basis.
Under state law, a county must declare that an extreme fire danger exists before implementing a burn ban. “Extreme fire danger” means:
- The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration has determined that the county is experiencing severe, extreme or exceptional drought.
- The National Weather Service has predicted that the county will see no more than half an inch of precipitation over the next three days.
“Extreme fire danger” also means either of the following:
- The number of fires is higher than normal for the season or the initial attack on several wildfires was unsuccessful, due to extreme fire behavior.
- More than 20% of the county’s wildfires were caused by burning escaped debris or controlled burns.
NOAA officials recently determined that southern Comanche County is experiencing severe drought, while the northern portion is seeing moderate drought, said Emergency Management Director Clint Langford.
“We’ve had some increase in our outside fires due to controlled burns, so we took a vote of our fire chiefs Thursday morning,” he said. “We got 96 percent in favor of the burn ban, and the only reason we’re at 96 is because the other two didn’t vote. Had they voted that day, we’d be at 100 percent.”
Elgin Mayor JJ Francais said he was glad to see the commission impose the burn ban.
“I understand and appreciate the decision is not one that they make lightly,” he said in a text message. “That said, a wet and mild winter, combined with the extreme heat we have seen recently, conditions are right for a small fire to become something.
“While our council has approved numerous measures to enhance our fire department, nothing can beat the community’s efforts in helping us prevent the next fire.”
Under the resolution, people are barred from setting fire to wildlands, building campfires or bonfires, or burning trash or other material that could cause a fire. Fireworks are outlawed while the ban remains in place.
The resolution includes these exceptions:
- Road construction equipment which uses propane or other controlled burners is considered safe. However, operators should have a water pumper on hand whenever the equipment is used near a grassy right of way.
- Welding, cutting torches and grinding are allowed if they are conducted over a noncombustible surface of at least 10 feet, and if welding blankets or screens are used to cover combustible vegetation.
- Charcoal grills, liquified petroleum gas and natural gas grills in a grilling receptacle are permitted, as long as grilling is conducted over a nonflammable surface and is at least 5 feet from flammable vegetation.
- Agricultural producers who are burning cropland, rangeland, forests or pastures to manage their property must follow Oklahoma Forestry Service guidelines.
Anyone caught violating the ban could face up to $500 in fines, up to a year in jail or both.