Agricultural News
High Fire Danger Likely to Return This Week Across Oklahoma
Sun, 05 Feb 2017 20:18:44 CST
Oklahomans are urged to use extreme caution as wildfire conditions continue to worsen across the state. Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) has worked with volunteer fire departments to battle multiple large wildfires over the past week and is seeing increased suppression difficulty despite the lack of critical fire weather. Conditions for high fire danger are increasing early this week.
"Our firefighters and local fire departments are seeing the normal fighting tactics are becoming increasingly less effective and more time consuming, especially in areas where brush, timber and storm debris are present," said Mark Goeller, Fire Management Chief, Oklahoma Forestry Services. "This is concerning to us as we see the potential for near-critical fire weather conditions developing early this week."
Most of the state is under a Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory, which was issued by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) on February 1 and continues through February 14. The advisory warned of critically dry large fuel moisture, including dead and downed trees and above normal loading of dormant grass fuels in many areas of the state. The National Interagency Fire Center monitors wildfire conditions across the nation and makes plans for the use of national resources where they are most needed.
Oklahoma Forestry Services, working with the National Weather Service, Southern Area Coordination Center and with input from interagency and local fire resources, monitors fire conditions daily for the state and informs the firefighting community with its Fire Situation Report.
Due to current conditions, Oklahoma Forestry Services is urging firefighters and the public to prepare for the possibility of an increase in the number and severity of wildfires. The public is asked to avoid doing anything that can cause a spark. Also, to report any wildfires immediately through 911, avoid the vicinity of wildfires to enable firefighters faster access to fires and to heed all evacuation notices. Families are advised to have a plan for wildfire incidents.
The National Interagency Fire Center and Oklahoma Forestry Services will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate state and national resources as needed.
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