OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Fire Fighters have been working exhausting this month, battling virtually 200 grassfires just in October. But the fireplace division is anticipating to remain busy via the top of the yr.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department says they’ve responded to just about 190 grass fires this October. Even with the rain earlier this week, they are saying it’s nonetheless not sufficient. While the bottom could also be moist, the dry grass on high can nonetheless burn.
“When we get a big rain like we had Monday, it’s helpful for a day or two typically. But what happens is that grass is still dry on the top and that’s not in contact with the ground,” stated Benny Fulkerson, Oklahoma City Fire Department.
Benny Fulkerson with the Oklahoma City Fire Department stated earlier than the rain they have been responding to round 5 to 6 grassfires each day, and now after the rain, they’re averaging round 4 per day.
“It has been a very busy month with grassfires being a large part of that… We need a steady dose of rain. We need some precipitation,” stated Fulkerson.
Gary McManus, the state climatologist for Oklahoma stated, the lifeless vegetation acts as a gas and causes the correct hearth climate circumstances to come up.
“We have two droughts going on… Those two droughts are working together to produce this one large, longer-term drought that has kept us dry through much of the summer,” stated Gary McManus, state climatologist for Oklahoma.
McManus stated he expects the wildfire season to get even worse via the top of the yr.
“It’s still that day-to-day weather that can trigger those wildfires… When we get into the cool season, in the November, December months, we get those cold fronts moving through, lots of wind, lots of dry air, and that can certainly produce those big-time wildfire conditions,” stated McManus.
While the grassfires stay a priority, the fireplace division expects to reply to extra construction fires as individuals start utilizing their heating techniques.
People are going to be turning on their heaters and that makes a giant distinction with our variety of construction fires. We are about to be lots busier with that, too, because the climate begins to get colder,” stated Fulkerson.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department needs to remind you of the present burn ban.
According to the Oklahoma Burn Ban Map, Oklahoma County together with Logan, Lincoln, Payne Counties and extra are underneath a burn ban proper now.
The map is constantly up to date all through the week. To see in case your county is at present underneath a burn ban, go to Oklahoma Forestry Services.
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