By Joy Hampton
February 24, 2009 — County commissioners issued another seven-day burn ban this week after discussing the need for local ranchers to conduct controlled burning. The motion to support the ban passed 2-1 with District 3 Commissioner Kirt Thacker casting the solitary “no” vote.
Rogers County Emergency Management Services Director Bob Anderson reported that fires were on the rise again over the weekend with people burning trash and debris despite high winds. In some cases, fires were left unattended and got out of hand.
“We’re trying to educate people,” said Anderson. “It’s illegal to burn trash in the state of Oklahoma.”
Anderson said the burn ban alerts people that it isn’t always safe to burn.
“We’ve not lost a house yet,” said Anderson, “But it was pretty close Friday.”
Recent rains are not absorbed by dry dead vegetation which is the fuel for grass fires. Mud creates more problems for firefighters.
“I had multiple trucks stuck,” said Anderson. He said Catoosa, Claremore, Chelsea, Foyil, Northwest, Limestone, Inola, Tiawah, Verdigris, Collinsville, Owasso, and Tri District fire departments all assented that a county-wide seven-day ban should be issued again. Anderson said Oak Grove and Alluwe could not be reached for a vote. Each of these departments have some covered territory within Rogers County.
“Some of our ranchers are getting ready to burn and we’ve got to let them do it,” said Anderson. “Ranchers know how to burn safely.”
For now, however, commissioners voted in support of the ban.
Thacker was the solitary “no” saying as a rancher he also needs to burn.
“Most of them burn for weed suppression,” said Thacker. “It helps to burn all the dead grass and trash off so the green grass can come in. Most of your ranchers will bur in a safe manner when they’re burning pasture.”
High winds are an issue. Anytime winds over 15 miles per hour, it is not safe to burn. Friday winds were 25 to 30 miles per hour, said Anderson.
“Usually when I burn, I want the wind very calm,” said Thacker. “I like it less than five miles per hour.”
Thacker said there are multiple safety precautions local ranchers know to put in place when conducting a burn.
“Most of your ranchers will contact the local fire departments and let them know they are conducting a burn,” said Thacker. “The ones the fire departments are having a problem with right now are people conducting unattended burns.”
Residents needing to burn should always call their local fire department or sheriff’s department before lighting a fire, said Anderson.
Anderson questioned whether the fire departments could require a permit for burning so that controlled burns could be conducted safely and with fire department input and oversight.
Commission Chair Mike Helm said he wasn’t sure of the legal process for permitting. He asked District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier to talk with the District Attorney about the process and the possibility of issuing burn bans through an emergency declaration.
DeLozier voted for the current ban as did Helm.
“It seems to be making a difference,” said DeLozier. “One good thing about the burn ban is it gives the sheriff’s office teeth.”
“Fires go down with a burn ban in place,” Anderson said.
Anderson said one local firefighter broke a leg this weekend and, statewide, there was a firefighter fatality in Oklahoma due to a suspected arson.
