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July 30, 2012

Commissioners extend burn ban

County under Code Red, high fire danger

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — The Rogers County Commissioners voted Monday to extend the burn ban in the county for another seven days. 

This decision comes after an extreme high danger alert was issued Saturday by Oklahoma Emergency Management.
Advisories continue to be issued on a weekly basis as OEM officials continue to monitor the weather. The advisory is more than a warning against high fire dangers; it also serves as a reminder of the severe heat that is expected this week.
“Everybody needs to watch their neighbors,” Emergency Management Director Bob Anderson said. “This heat right now will kill.”
The entire area is also under a warning from the National Weather Service for “dangerously hot weather” and “record-breaking heat” until at least 7 p.m. Thursday,  according to John Wylie OTEMS Public Information Officer.
The temperatures are expected to stay near 110 degrees all week and the risk of fire is extremely high.
“Everything is real dry and many local governments are asking citizens to conserve water,” Anderson said.
The amount of water that is available is very important, Anderson said.
Low water pressure can impact the ability to fight fires.
Local agencies will be required to report any fire consuming more than one acre of land to the state office, according to Anderson.
They have reported several significant fires in the past two weeks alone.
All outdoor burning is banned and outdoor welding will only be allowed with a “fire watch” person available on site. 
The fire watch individual must have proper equipment on site to extinguish a fire, if necessary.

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