Agricultural News
Intense drying Conditions have Prompted a notable Increase in wildfire activity across Oklahoma
Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:35:21 CDT
Fire Situation Report for September 28, 2022
NE Area – 8 Fires Burned 77.5 Acres (Cause: 1-Escaped Debris, 3-Equipment, 4-Incendiary)
EC Area – 5 Fires Burned 1,141 Acres (Cause: 5-Incendiary)
SE Area – 24 Fires Burned 5,665.1Acres (Cause: 3-Escaped Debris, 1-Electrical, 20-Incendiary)
Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area:
• Turkey Creek Fire (Atoka County) – 370 Acres / 25% Contained
• Kerns Ranch Fire (Pushmataha County) – 3,500 est. Acres / 25% Contained
• Crum Creek Fire (Pushmataha County) – 135 Acres / 50% Contained
• Rereg Road Fire (McCurtain County) – 260 Acres / 80% Contained
• Solomon’s Grave Fire (Pushmataha County) – 414 Acres / 70% Contained
• Blue Hole Fire (McCurtain County) – 1,100 est. Acres / 60% Contained
• Dry Creek Fire (Pushmataha County) – 27 Acres / 80% Contained, 2 Structures
• House Pad Fire (McCurtain County) – 15 Acres / 60% Contained, 1 Structure Lost
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area: 3 Fires Burned 352 Acres
• Four Mile Creek Fire (Lincoln County) – 300 est. acres / 25% Contained, 1 Firefighter Injury
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: No New Activity
Fire Department Statistics: Moderate Initial Attack Activity
• Billings Fire (Noble County) – 25 acres / 90% Contained, 1 Civilian Fatality/7 Civilian Injuries
Statewide Discussion:
Intense drying conditions have prompted a notable increase in wildfire activity across Oklahoma.
Continued warm temperatures and an increasing departure from normal rainfall have resulted in declining live-fuel moisture values
and increasing fuel availability. Upper-level soil moisture deficits translate into increased resistance during active fire suppression
operations along with increased resource commitment to meet control standards of wildfire incidents.
Warmer and drier than normal conditions are expected to persist through this week into next week with some signal of enhanced
fire weather over receptive fuels on Friday. For today, a weak front will slowly migrate across the state from the north-northwest
settling in along I-44 around midday with north to east winds at 7-12 mph north of the frontal boundary and southerly winds at 8-
13 mph gusting to 20 mph south of the front.
Southeastern & South-Central Oklahoma: Relative humidity values will fall into the 17-29% range as temperatures warm to
87°-93° under clear skies. Fine-dead fuel moisture values will register 4% across most of the area during peak burning conditions.
South to southeast winds sustained 8-13 mph gusting this afternoon up to 20 mph will support head fire rates of spread around
70 ft/min with flame lengths 8-13 ft. Timber litter will exhibit head fire rates of spread 15-20 ft/min with flame lengths 4.5-7 ft. Pine
dominated fuels will exhibit problematic fire behavior with single/group tree torching, short-range spotting and potential transition
to extreme fire behavior with crown runs. Head fire rates of spread will generally range from 19-30 ft/min with surface fire flame
lengths at 8 ft. Additionally, firefighters should anticipate slope driven runs exhibiting accelerated rates of fire spread and fireline
intensity.
Western & North-central Oklahoma: Rangeland fuels will exhibit notable resistance to control efforts given the depth of drying
in recent days. Temperatures will range from 80°-87° with relative humidity values 23-28% under clear skies supporting fine-dead
fuel moisture values at 4%. Light northerly winds this morning will become northeast to east this afternoon sustained 7-12 mph
with limited gusts in the afternoon. Rangeland fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 50-78 ft/min with flame lengths 7-12 ft.
Brush and juniper fuels will exhibit problematic fire behavior including single and group tree torching coupled with short-range
spotting.
Northeastern Oklahoma: Easterly to southeast winds are expected to persist throughout the day sustained 5-12 mph with some
gusts nearing 20 mph this afternoon. Temperatures will top out at 82°-89° under clear skies with afternoon relative humidity values
21-28% yielding fine-dead fuel moisture values 4-5%. Grass-dominated fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 70-95 ft/min
with flame lengths 11-14 ft. Timber litter will exhibit ROS 15-22 ft/min with FL 4-6.5 ft.
Winds are expected to become generally calm overnight with Thursday bringing very similar fire behavior conditions although wind
direction will shift back to a southerly flow. Friday is expected to present elevated fire weather conditions with some stronger
winds across northwestern Oklahoma including the Oklahoma Panhandle. Next update is scheduled for Friday, September 30.
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.
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