Texas County under burn ban as wildfire risk rises

Texas County is under a burn ban, so residents, ranchers and contractors cannot start outdoor fires for trash, brush or field cleanup unless an exception is granted. The notice is posted on the county’s official website meetings page, and Oklahoma Forestry Services’ statewide map shows Texas County with county burn-ban status, updated July 6 at 5:57 p.m.

For Guymon, Hooker, Goodwell and Texhoma, dry grass and wind can turn a small spark into a fast-moving wildfire. Landowners have to delay debris burns, farmers and ranchers have to change routine cleanup work, and contractors using welding tools or other spark-producing equipment need to be careful around tall grass, roadside vegetation and equipment that can throw embers.

Burn bans are enforced by state law and are based on predicted weather conditions, the long-term forecast, the condition of wildland fuels, current fire behavior and fire occurrences. County commissioner burn-ban resolutions last no more than 14 days from the date of passage, giving local governments a limited window to restrict burning while conditions remain dangerous. Anyone who ignores the ban can face enforcement under that state framework.

Local fire crews have already been active. Guymon firefighters and nearly all fire agencies in Texas County fought a fire in extreme weather conditions, and it was under control at 1:18 p.m.