Agricultural News
Strong potential for a very active period of Wildfire activity in western Oklahoma this Week
Mon, 04 Apr 2022 13:34:18 CDT
Statewide Discussion: There is strong potential for a very active period of wildfire activity in western Oklahoma this week. Rain and storms moving over parts of Oklahoma last night and this morning coupled with additional chances this evening extending from southwestern Oklahoma into Central and all of eastern Oklahoma are poised to provide some moisture improving both live and dead fuel moisture values in central and eastern Oklahoma. Energy Release Component values across western Oklahoma improved a bit with a late-week rain although the strength of fire weather over predominantly dormant fuels in western Oklahoma will drive increasing ERC values as well as potential for high-severity wildfires in the Oklahoma Panhandle, northwestern and western Oklahoma.
Today: Sky cover, mild temperatures, elevated relative humidity values and rain/storm chances over much of Oklahoma will hold wildfire concern in check for most of the state today. The highest fire danger indices will develop in the Oklahoma Panhandle this afternoon, although persistent sky cover will serve to limit fine-fuel receptiveness. New fires occurring today in the Oklahoma Panhandle and northwestern Oklahoma are not expected to exhibit troublesome resistance to control offering good opportunity for successful initial attack effort.
Tuesday: Strong drying conditions will develop along and west of US 183 initiating a period of concerning fire danger potential in western Oklahoma through the remainder of the week. In this area, temperatures will warm into the 80°'s coupled with relative humidity values below 25% and strong southwest to west winds. Rates of fire spread in rangeland fuels at 109-190 ft/min are likely affording respectable initial attack opportunity.
Near-Term: Fire danger concern in areas along and west of US 183 ratchet up midweek through the end of the week. Potential for a very active period of fire occurrence seems likely with wildfires exhibiting rapid rates of fire spread and potential for problematic fire behavior transitioning to extreme fire behavior. Given current fuels and weather inputs, the area of greatest concern will develop in northwestern Oklahoma and the eastern half of the Oklahoma Panhandle. In parts of central and southeastern Oklahoma, the boost in soil moisture will prompt some green up in grazed pastures and areas dominated by cool-season species.
Burn Bans:
Refer to: https://ag.ok.gov/divisions/forestry-services/ for the most current burn ban information and links to specific burn ban proclamations.
OFS STATISTICS for April 1-4, 2021 OFS Preparedness Level: 1 - 2 - - 4 - 5
NE Area No New Activity
EC Area 1 Fire Burned 33 Acres (Cause: 1-Incendiary)
SE Area 9 Fires Burned 98.1 Acres (Cause: 2-Escaped Debris, 7-Incendiary)
Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area: No New Activity
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area: No New Activity
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: No New Activity
Fire Department Statistics Moderate Initial Attack Activity
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