Gov. Brad Henry reinstated the burn ban Monday, only a week after it was lifted due to rainfall in the state.
County firefighters were already aware that the burn ban needed to be reinstated, and they reported numerous wildfires over the weekend.
Greg Walters, firefighter with the Nicut Fire Department, reported Nicut firefighters fought four blazes over the weekend, and assisted with two wrecks (See stories on the two accidents in this issue of Your TIMES.)
Walters said the fires involved well over 1,000 acres, but the largest fire was just north of the Sequoyah-Adair county line. Nicut firemen assisted the State Forestry Division with that fire he said. Forestry firefighters called for assistance because several structures were endangered, Walters said. Firefighters were at the Adair County fire until about midnight Sunday.
The Nicut firemen also fought a 100-acre fire on Friday and two grass fires on Saturday, which burned about five acres.
Dana Tracy, Rural Fire Protection District No. 1 fire chief, reported Monday, "We had a rather busy weekend."
Tracy said the firefighters' weekend began last Friday when they were dispatched to a grass fire near the home of Bill Wooten on County Line Road. Tracy said about one acre burned, and one grass rig, one pumper truck and four firefighters were dispatched to extinguish the fire.
At noon on Friday, two firemen and a grass rig were dispatched to a wildfire at Haven Heights in Gore, to assist the Gore Fire Department, Tracy said. That fire burned about one acre.
At about 1 p.m. Saturday, the firefighters fought a three-acre blaze near the home of Bill Robinson on State Highway 10. Tracy said he sent one pumper truck, one tanker and nine firemen to that blaze.
At about 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Forestry Division called for assistance at a wildfire on River Road, on property owned by Dana White.
"One mobile home was in danger," Tracy reported.
Tracy said he sent two grass rigs, tanker and pumper trucks and nine men to assist the Forestry Division firefighters.
"While we were there," Tracy reported, "the forestry plane called about a fire on property owned by Tommy Trotter at the intersection of Ridge and Ranch Roads."
Tracy said he dispatched six men, two grass rigs, one tanker, and one pumper to aid the Forestry Division. That fire burned about four acres.
But the firefighters weren't done yet.
Tracy said the Gore Fire Department called again for assistance at about 6 p.m. Sunday at Haven Heights. "It was near the water pump station. We provided mutual aid to Gore and had to fight that fire by hand because it was so far off the road," Tracy reported.
Tracy commended the Forestry Division spotter plane pilot. "He can see things a lot better than we can from the ground," Tracy said.
In addition to the fire fighting, firemen have been doing a lot of smoke checks to try and catch fires before they get out of control, Tracy said.
He reminded residents that anyone who lets a fire escape may be liable for others' property losses.
Sallisaw Fire Chief Mike Tubbs said he was busy Tuesday rescinding fire permits. The City of Sallisaw requires residents have a fire permit to burn yard and other waste. But since the burn ban was reinstated Monday, Tubbs said he was having to collect the permits.
Sallisaw firemen had to douse a wildfire Monday on West Taylor Drive after a controlled burn escaped.
Firefighters were dispatched again Tuesday, fighting fires from Roland to Sallisaw.
The ban against burning includes all counties in the state except Pittsburg, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Choctaw, Pushmataha, Bryan, Atoka, Coal and Marshall Counties.
The ban makes it illegal to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wild lands, or marshes, or to build a bonfire, burn or ignite fireworks or to burn trash or other materials.
LPG and natural gas grills and charcoal-fired cooking outside in a grilling receptacle are permitted provided the grilling is conducted over a non-flammable surface of at least 10 feet by 10 feet.
Welding and cutting torch operations may be conducted under the following conditions:
*Must be done over a non-combustible surface of at least 10 feet by 10 feet
*May be done when welding blankets or screens are used to cover flammable vegetation
*Wind speeds must be less than 20 miles per hour
*A fire watch must be done on site with pressurized water or a fire extinguisher available
The burn ban will remain in effect until the Division of Forestry recommends removal of the ban.
