LAWTON – Because an “extreme fire danger” exists in Comanche County – and elsewhere in Oklahoma and neighboring Kansas – Emergency Management Director Clint Langford announced Monday that a countywide burn ban is in effect for two weeks: Feb. 23 to March 9.
Consequently, “it is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands” in Comanche County, “or to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn rubbish or other material that may cause” a fire. Fireworks are prohibited, and “the ignition of fireworks” for public or private displays “are prohibited for the duration” of the ban.
In road construction projects, equipment that uses propane “or other controlled type burners” is “generally regarded as safe.” However, “it would be prudent to have a water pumper on standby any time this equipment is used near a grassy right-of-way.”
Special precautions are required for welding, cutting torch, and grinding activities.
Outdoor campfires or bonfi res are prohibited. Charcoal grills, LPG, and natural gas grills in a grilling receptacle are permitted if “that activity is conducted over a non-flammable surface and at least 5 feet from flammable vegetation.”
Any person convicted of violating these provisions would be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and would be subject to a fine of up to $500 and/or confinement in a county jail for as long as a year.
Anyone driving the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Lawton and the Newcastle gate can see evidence of multiple grass fires along the right-of-way.
Okeene legislator trains sights on invasive species
As Oklahomans in the northwest and the Panhandle suffered from disastrous wildfires last week that burned nearly 155,000 acres in the state and grew to nearly 300,000 acres total combined with Kansas, observers witnessed what fueled some of the quickly spreading fires: cedar trees that turned into firebombs.
State Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, has picked up the mantle once held by the late Richard Morrissette, an Oklahoma City legislator who, 15 years ago, championed the cause of eliminating the eastern redcedar infestation.
Dobrinski is promoting the “Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act” created by House Bill 2239, which Dobrinski authored and was enacted in 2023. He has urged Governor Stitt, with the Legislature’s help, to expand funding for eradicating invasive species.
Dobrinski also was the House sponsor of Senate Bill 940, enacted last year, which requires the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to implement a statewide plan to target harmful woody species on state lands. Both are efforts to reduce materials that consume massive amounts of water and lead to fire threats.
This year, Dobrinski filed House Bill 2988, the “Oklahoma Harmful Woody Species Removal Tax Credit Act.” It proposes a tax credit for removal of harmful woody species through qualified practices as defined by the state Conservation Commission.
The bill received a “do pass” recommendation from the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Feb. 16 and was referred to the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Dobrinski said the legislation will be amended before it reaches the full A&B Committee to instead expand the Terry Peach Act.
“February is not traditionally a month we consider a wildfire risk,” he said. “After record snowfall last month, warm temperatures and winds have created threatening conditions earlier than usual. Woodward was spared last week, by the grace of God and the work of hundreds of firefighters and first responders. Many in the Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma, however, have suffered great loss.”
As the Wichita Eagle newspaper reported, the fires started near Beaver, Oklahoma, swept across the state line and burned several thousand acres in three counties in Kansas.
Dr. Randall Spare, a Kansas veterinarian, had to euthanize several head of injured cattle. He estimated 1,000-plus have died or will die as a result of the fire, the Eagle reported.
Trees guzzle water and fuel wildfires
Lawmakers have talked for years about eastern redcedars and their challenge to the western Oklahoma water supply, along with the fire threat they present for much of the state, Dobrinski noted.
“This issue predates my service at the Capitol by at least two decades,” he said. “The Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act was a trial study that proved that addressing this issue would improve waterflow, restore native grasslands, return ecological balance and promote wildlife habitat.”
Dobrinski said Woodward was threatened because of the proliferation of eastern redcedars southwest of the city, very much like the communities of Stillwater and Mannford, which suffered wildfires last spring.
“Our own governor lost a rural residence northeast of the Oklahoma City metro area in those fires, in an area that is very thick with eastern redcedars on neighboring properties,” he said.
“As the governor approaches the end of his administration, we can celebrate many victories and improvements to our wonderful state,” Dobrinski said. “I encourage him to include in his legacy being the governor that decided it was time to turn the tide on our ever-increasing eastern redcedar problem. I ask him to please work with our Legislature and emphasize the need to properly fund a sustained effort to improve our state’s land and water resources and ensure a safer future for generations to come.”
Wildfires still scorching land
Devastating wildfires that wreaked havoc in the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas last week are still scorching more land.
Over the weekend, the Oklahoma Forestry Division reported the largest of the fires, the Ranger Road Fire which burned in Beaver and Harper counties in Oklahoma and more in Kansas, was finally 55% contained. The last update said it had burned 283,283 acres.
The Stevens Fire in Texas County and in southwest Kansas was 90% under control but had burned 12,428 acres, the Forestry Division announced. Other reports included:
•Backwoods Hunting Club Fire (Adair County): 114.5 acres; 70% contained.
•Drowning Creek Fire (Delaware County): 536 acres; 70% contained.
•Side Road Fire (Texas County): 3,680 acres; 100% contained.
•43 Fire (Woodward County): 1,680 acres; 90% contained.
•Poor Farm Fire (Latimer County): 9,565 acres; 65% contained.
•615 Fire (Cherokee County): 242 acres; 90% contained.