ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
High winds have been hitting the area in the last week, with some exceeding 70 miles per hour, and this has increased the risk of fire in the region.
Monday, Texas County, Okla., commissioners took a step toward reducing that risk by issuing a burn ban in the county for the rest of March.
That ban came with the passage of a resolution stating extreme fire danger exists in Texas County, and the situation has been verified by a documented concurrence of the majority of the county’s municipal and rural fire chiefs or other designees.
“By virtue of this resolution, it unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop or other wild lands or to build a campfire or bonfire or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wild lands fire,” the resolution stated.
The resolution did list exceptions and appropriate precautionary measures to be taken, including:
• For equipment related to road construction projects
“Equipment which uses propane or other controlled type burners is generally regarded as safe,” the resolution said. “However, it would be prudent to have water pumper standby anytime this equipment is used near a grassy right-of-way.”
• Welding, cutting torch and grinding activities
“When conducted over non-combustible surface of at least 10 feet by 10 feet and when welding blankets or screens are used to cover flammable vegetation,” the resolution said. “Wind speeds must be less than 20 mph, and a fire watch, other than the welder, is posted at the welding/cutting torch site with pressurized water or fire extinguisher.”
• Campfires and outdoor cooking
“Outdoor campfires or bonfires are prohibited,” the resolution said. “LPG and natural gas grills and charcoal-fired cooking outside in a grilling receptacle are permitted provided the activity is conducted over a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation.”
The resolution went on to say enforcement may be carried out by any Oklahoma law enforcement officer.
“Any person convicted of violating this resolution shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 to imprisonment of not more than one year or to both such fine and imprisonment,” the resolution said.
The resolution went into effect Monday and will be so for a period not to exceed 14 days. The resolution added if extreme fire danger conditions persist, subsequent resolutions may be passed, and the burn ban may be removed at any time during the 30-day period by the same method by which it was approved.
