The threat of wildfires in the area is rising and Thursday and Friday of this week the level will be elevated, a local official says.
Paul Simpson is rural fire coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD). Simpson said, “It’s turning bad right now. This week looks really bad.”
The COEDD area encompasses seven counties and among those are both Lincoln and Pottawatomie County.
He indicated the Oklahoma Forestry Service has put the state at a level 6 for today (Thursday) and Friday. “Those will be the worst two days, with high fire danger,” he added, relating that is the information he’s been provided.
“Vegetation is heavy, the wind will be there, there will be moderate temperatures and low humidity,” he said.
Simpson said he meets every couple of weeks with the Lincoln County fire chiefs and so far there have been no major wildfires reported to him.
“Once the wind gets to 15 miles per hour, it’s not a good time to do control burns,” Simpson stated.
“There will be high fire danger in the next week or so,” he thinks.
Simpson emphasized, “moderate temperatures, low humidity and winds are the ingredients for a wildfire.” are terraced. “The high side is dry and the lower side stores water,” he stated. Simpson noted, too, despite the recent snowstorm, “It’s dry up top.”
Simpson cautioned those wanting to do control burns. “You shouldn’t control burn if the wind is 15 miles or higher,” he reiterated, saying, “If the wind changes, the control burn can get out of hand.”
He commented that, “We haven’t had fires where any resources from other counties were needed.”