Agricultural News
Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Fire Situation Report: Fire Activity Increased Over the Weekend
Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:59:47 CST
According to the latest Fire Situation Report from the Oklahoma Forestry Services, 10 fires burned 249 acres in southeastern Oklahoma. The Campground Fire, in the OFS Protection Area, burned 152 acres and is 100% contained.
Statewide Discussion: Warm temperatures and dry fuels will boost fire danger today across much of Oklahoma ahead of yet another cold front that will usher in colder temperatures and possibly a bit of snow tomorrow in the Panhandle and a shot of wintry weather in the northeast. That snow chance in the Panhandle and western Oklahoma will do very little, if anything, to turn the tide of building fire concern across the area. While criteria for Red Flag Warning will not be met in Oklahoma today, continued initial attack activity is expected. Colder temperatures and sky cover Wednesday and Thursday will serve to mute potential although fuels are dry and winds will push any new ignition.
Today: The strongest alignment of fire environment inputs and subsequent fire danger will reside in southwestern Oklahoma extending into the south-central counties with elevated fire danger indices across the west and central regions. Across northern Oklahoma from the Oklahoma Panhandle into the north-central counties, rather light winds will limit fire spread potential, and relative humidity values will struggle to get below 30% in eastern Oklahoma suppressing fuel receptiveness.
· Southwest/South-Central Oklahoma: Temperature 66?-73? and afternoon relative humidity values 14-26% under mostly clear skies will yield very receptive fine-fuels at 5% with some local observations of 4%. Winds are not expected to be overly challenging sustained 10-16 mph from the south with some gusts near 20 mph especially in the south-central counties - winds will shift to westerly later this afternoon and evening. Grass dominated fuels in the area will support head fire rates of spread 90-144 ft/min with flame lengths 10-12 ft. Mixed fuels will support ROS 70-90 ft/min with flame lengths up to 17 ft.
· Western Oklahoma/Oklahoma Panhandle: Temperature will warm to 61?-66? with relative humidity values 10-19% this afternoon under mostly clear skies driving very receptive fine fuels into the 4-5% range. Light and variable winds this morning will remain rather light through the burning period ahead of the cold front arriving overnight. Rangeland fuels will support manageable head fire rates of spread around 65 ft/min providing very good opportunity for successful initial attack.
· Central/Eastern Oklahoma: This afternoon, temperature will warm to around 60? north to 67? south with afternoon relative humidity values 26-30%+ holding fine-dead fuel moisture above the critical threshold at 7-8%. South winds sustained 10-17 mph with some higher gusts will drive rates of fire spread in grass-dominated fuels to near 120 ft/min and flame lengths 10-14 ft. Timber-litter will produce ROS 12-22 ft/min with head fire flame length around 4 ft.
Wednesday: The cold front arriving overnight will bring much cooler temperatures along with some snow chances in the Panhandle primarily and wintry weather northeast. Cooler temperatures and sky cover will serve to limit fuel receptiveness although fuel dryness and increased winds across the west and central counties will support potential for problematic fire behavior on an established wildfire.
Near Term: Below-average temperatures and continued sky cover will mute fire danger for a few days. The current 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast holds no hope for improving the dryness that continues to build. Fortunately, no critical fire weather is in the current forecast period.
See the map above for the latest list of Oklahoma counties under burn bans.
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