Continued drought kindles concerns over wildfires

By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer

Despite cold temperatures and recent precipitation, local fire officials are crossing their fingers that lingering drought conditions won’t bring winter wildfires.

High winds whipped flames across much of Oklahoma last winter, including a fire which scorched 285 acres in east Mustang neighborhoods and burned several homes. In all, 869 homes statewide were damaged — 300 of which were destroyed. Nearly 2,800 fires burned 550,000 acres across Oklahoma.

Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman said the fires awakened area residents to the risks.

“People need to be careful and understand the dangers,” he said. “We could be back in the same situation we were in last year. All it takes is a good windy day, and we are there. The fuel is there.”

Although Oklahoma hasn’t seen any major wildfires like the ones that began Nov. 27, 2005, flaring up for several months and the area isn’t yet under a burn ban, Hickman said his department is careful in issuing burning permits.

“That (burn permit) doesn’t put them in the clear,” he said. “If they set somebody’s property on fire, they are still liable.”

Mustang, like most of central Oklahoma is facing a severe drought, said Scott Curl, National Weather Service meteorologist. Central Oklahoma is on average almost a foot below the regional average for rainfall, he said, the eighth severest drought on record. To provide any relief, the area needs several heavy rains.

Although it’s dry, Curl said this year isn’t as severe as last winter, adding there is hope with precipitation this week.

“We are not seeing any long-term problems like last year at this point,” he said, adding dry, warm and windy conditions raised fair dangers for months. This year, so far high risk days haven’t been as frequent. “We aren’t there at this time.”

Curl said unless Oklahoma gets a long, solid rain, it will only help abate fire concerns in the short term.
Hickman said with most vegetation killed by the first frost, the region will continue to face increased fire risks brought by any winter, until spring brings new sprouts.

“I don’t think an inch or two of rain will do us much good at all,” Hickman said. “It’s a temporary reprieve.”

However, the lack of precipitation this spring and summer is a mixed blessing, he said, because it shortened the growing season, leaving less dry vegetation to fuel fires.

“There is less fuel, a little bit,” Hickman said, “But still the potential is there — it doesn’t take a lot of fuel if you have a high wind.”

Recent rains have also helped encourage growth of winter grasses, providing added moisture in parts of the state, said Mark Goeller, forestry division assistant director of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

“The outlook — it’s hard to say,” he said. “It will all depend on how the weather systems come.”

The burn ban was reinstated in October in Garfield, Grant, Osage and Pawnee counties in north central Oklahoma. Goeller said in expanding the ban, state officials will consider the size of any wildfires as well as current and forecasted weather conditions.

“Hopefully last fire season made a lot of people aware of the potential in Oklahoma,” he said. “It certainly raised eyebrows across the country.”

Hickman urged area residents to take steps to protect their property in case of fire. Residents should:

  • Keep grass mowed low. Trim cedar trees high enough so if a fire occurs, flames sweep below the limbs.
  • Clean property of combustibles — dried leaves and other debris. Keep woodpiles stored away from homes and outbuildings.
  • Clear leaves and debris out of gutters and off roofs.
  • Make sure homes have a working smoke detector.
  • Have chimneys inspected and cleaned before using them. Other heating appliances should also be inspected periodically to make sure they are functioning properly.

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