Agricultural News
Anderson Creek Fire Now Ninety Percent Contained- The Latest on Hay Needs, Pasture Listings and Cash Donations
Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:21:36 CDT
Crews continue to mop-up and suppress hotspots aided by some snowfall on the fire Sunday morning. By mid-afternoon, much of the snow had melted with fuels drying out. The Anderson Creek Fire is 90% contained across Oklahoma and Kansas with updated mapping of the fire's perimeter expected today. Containment is now 85% for the portion of the fire in Woods County, OK. Kansas officials are reporting the fire to be 81% contained in Barber County and 90% contained in Comanche County.
The highest fire danger today will reside in the Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma. Relative humidity will drop below 30% across most of Oklahoma excluding an area along the Red River in southern and southeast Oklahoma. High winds will reside in the Panhandle. The benefit of yesterday's snowfall brought minimal moisture in the area and fire danger is expected to quickly increase during the burning period today.
"Even though we received minimal moisture yesterday, firefighters experienced some smoking spots within the fire perimeter that were addressed and crews are working to reinforce fire lines to prepare for the weather forecast through the middle of the week," stated George Geissler, Director of Oklahoma Forestry Service.
Freezing temperatures over the last couple of mornings have delayed green-up across much of northern and western Oklahoma resulting in ample vegetation availability to support the potential for large fire activity. Fire danger is expected to build into the middle of the week as another relatively strong system arrives Wednesday. Tomorrow, fire danger will remain in place with warm and gusty south winds. However, temperatures may hold humidity levels above critical values A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Harper and Cimarron Counties in the Panhandle for Tuesday with potential for expansion of Watch/Warning areas through the middle of this week.
Wednesday holds potential for critical fire weather conditions, warm temperatures, low relative humidity, strong winds and a complicating frontal passage late in the afternoon.
Hay Needed
The Radio Oklahoma Network has received word from Woods County farmer Joe Shirley that more hay is needed for ranchers impacted by the fire. Call 580-829-3037 if you have hay that you can donate.
Pasture Listings Being Set up By Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Farm Bureau is helping relief efforts for ranchers affected by recent wildfires in northwest Oklahoma by creating a listing of short-term pasture leases available in the state.
Landowners who have pastures they would like to make available for short-term lease can contact OKFB's Todd Honer, director of commodities for OKFB, with details about their land, including acres available, price per acre, location and the duration of the lease. Call or text Honer at (405) 205-0090 or email him at todd.honer@okfb.org.
A full list of available short-term pasture leases will be posted and maintained at OKFB's website.
"We know the severity and scope of these fires have created great hardships for ranchers in Woods County," said Honer. "We know Oklahomans are always ready to lend a helping hand to our fellow citizens in need, and we want to help connect ranchers affected by fire with those who have some extra land to rent."
Cash Donations
To give cash donations to the relief efforts, the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation is accepting online contributions that will directly reach ranchers in need. Click here for the webpage that has more information on how to donate.
Our thanks to the Oklahoma Forestry Services for providing the photo above of Fire Fighters Dealing with Hot Spots.
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