Agricultural News
Monday, January 31, 2022, Fire Situation Report: More than 4,300 Acres Burn Over the Weekend
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:44:15 CST
According to the latest Fire Situation Report from the Oklahoma Forestry Services:
NE Area - 2 Fires Burned 52 Acres (Cause: 1-Escaped Debris, 1-Incendiary)
EC Area - 16 Fires Burned 1,283 Acres (Cause: 8- Escaped Debris, 8-Incendiary)
SE Area - 25 Fires Burned 805.5 Acres (Cause: 6-Escaped Debris, 19-Incendiary)
Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area:
• Frazier Creek Fire (Pushmataha County) - 180 Acres, 25% Contained
• Cherry Blossom Fire (McCurtain County) - 200 Acres, 30% Contained
• Yellow Banks Fire (McCurtain County) - 103 Acres, 85% Contained
• Smallwood Fire (Latimer County) - 215 Acres, 75% Contained
• Albright Fire (Latimer County) - 448 Acres, 75% Contained
• Limestone Fire (Latimer County) - 200 Acres, 75% Contained
• Gaia Fire (Latimer County) - 118 Acres, 75% Contained
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area: 3 Fires Burned 291 Acres (Cause: 1-Equipment,1-Incendiary)
• Mt. Zion Church Fire (McCurtain County) - 2 Acres/2 Structures, 85% Contained
• Messer 20 Fire (Choctaw County) - 234 Acres, 85% Contained
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: 1 Rx Fire Treating 266 Acres
Statewide Discussion: Unseasonably warm temperatures and very dry conditions led to very receptive fuels over the weekend that led to a spike in wildfire activity across Oklahoma. Warm and dry conditions continue today with wildfire activity expected to continue. While critical fire weather is not expected elevated conditions will develop this afternoon in the Panhandle and northwestern counties. Given the condition of fuels and forecasted conditions today, initial attack activity is expected to continue in earnest with emergence of some large fire activity. A winter storm system forecasted to arrive Tuesday evening posing potential for knocking back fire danger through the remainder of the week.
Today: Temperatures will again warm into the mid-60?'s to around 70? this afternoon following a cool start of the day. Afternoon relative humidity values will be lowest in northwestern and Panhandle counties where dew point temperature is less than or around 20?. Sustained winds will likely remain under 20 mph holding fire spread potential in the moderate range broadly. With that, initial attack activity is fully expected continue with emergence of some large fire activity while significant fire potential remains very low.
· Northwest / Panhandle: Temperatures warm to 66?-70? this afternoon following a chilly start in the teens and 20?'s. The chilly start and moderate overnight moisture recovery will stall development of active burning conditions until early afternoon. Afternoon relative humidity values 7-18% and mostly-clear skies will yield fine-dead fuel moisture values at 4% this afternoon. Southwest winds sustained 12-16 mph with some gusts topping 20 mph will support moderate rates of spread. Rangeland fuels will support head fire rates of spread 104-168 ft/min with flame lengths 9-13 ft. Wind speeds diminish after sunset coupled with improving humidity that will clip the burning period short offering good opportunity for successful initial attack.
· North of I-44: Temperatures will warm into the 66?-71? range with afternoon relative humidity values 19-32% driving finedead fuel moisture into the 5-6% range - again very receptive. Light winds this morning will become southerly sustained 12-16 mph with some gusts above 20 mph supporting moderate rates of spread. Range and grass dominated fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 72-157 ft/min with flame lengths 9-14 ft. exhibiting increased resistance to control. Mixed fuels will produce ROS around 60 ft/min with head fire flame lengths around 10 ft. Winds will remain around 10 mph into the overnight, although relative humidity values will begin to improve after sunset providing opportunity to capture going fires.
· South of I-44: Afternoon temperature 69?-72? and relative humidity values 27-38% will yield fine-dead fuel moisture at 6% across much of the area. 5% observations are not out of the question locally and if sky cover does invade in the southeast, 7% observations should be expected. South winds sustained 8-12 mph with some higher gusts will push head fire rates of spread to 65-140 ft/min with flame lengths 12-14 ft in grass fuels while timber fuels will exhibit ROS around 15-20 ft/min. Relative humidity and subsequent fine fuel moisture will improve rapidly after sunset providing good opportunity for successful initial attack.
Near Term: A lot of attention is being given to the impeding winter storm that is expected Tuesday evening into Wednesday and possibly Thursday. As such, fire danger will be significantly reduced through the remainder of the week offering some relief from the building fuel dryness and wildfire concern. Obviously, we will have to evaluate the strength of the benefit from precipitation following melting conditions.
See the map for the latest list of Oklahoma counties under burn bans.
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