[OkHam] Burn Ban Modified

[Lloyd Colston]

Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol – Oklahoma City OK 73105
405-521-2342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 12, 2006

Gov. Henry modifies burn order,
Removes NW Oklahoma, metro areas from ban

Oklahoma City – Citing recent rainfall and the advice of agriculture 
experts, Gov. Brad Henry today modified the state’s burn ban, lifting 
burn prohibitions for northwestern Oklahoma and a number of other areas 
around the state, including the major metro areas in Oklahoma and Tulsa 
counties.

The governor’s office announced the decision this afternoon after 
reviewing data compiled by state agriculture, forestry and emergency 
management officials. Many counties in Oklahoma have received 
significant rainfall over the last few weeks.

“The recent rainfall has provided enough relief to remove the burn ban 
in many counties, but Oklahomans must still use common sense and 
exercise extreme caution when they are involved with any type of outdoor 
burning,” said Gov. Henry. “Oklahoma is still in the midst of the worst 
drought in state history, and I will not hesitate to expand the burn ban 
if it is needed to protect lives and property.”

According to data compiled by agriculture officials, the fire danger 
remains high in the 39 counties that will remain under the burn ban. 
Outdoor burning will still be prohibited in southeastern Oklahoma and 
other pockets around the state that have not received enough rainfall to 
offset drought conditions.

The counties remaining under the burn ban are: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, 
Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Delaware, 
Garfield, Garvin, Grant, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Latimer, 
Leflore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, McClain, Murray, Muskogee, 
Okmulgee, Okfuskee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, 
Pushmataha, Pontotoc, Seminole, Sequoyah and Stephens counties.

In the burn ban counties, there are exemptions for low risk activities 
such as charcoal and gas grilling. Occupations such as welding can also 
earn exemptions, provided tradesmen follow specific protections outlined 
by the Department of Agriculture. Violations of the ban are misdemeanors 
punishable by as much as a $500 fine and one-year imprisonment.

Because of record drought conditions, Oklahoma has been under some form 
of burn ban eight of the last 11 months. Gov. Henry instituted the most 
recent ban in early August when dry, hot and windy conditions fueled 
wildfires across the state.

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