McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

February 3, 2009

County says burn ban back in effect

By James Beaty

Any Pittsburg County residents who are ready to start burning those limbs and branches that snapped off during last week’s ice storm might want to wait.

Pittsburg County commissioners reinstated the burn ban on Monday, putting it back in effect for another seven days.

Last week, with freezing rain and sleet in the forecast, the commissioners allowed the ban to expire.

Pittsburg County District 2 Commissioner Gene Rogers said the commissioners passed the ban again this week at the request of volunteer fire departments in the area.

Out of 20 volunteer fire departments polled, 19 were for the burn ban, said Pittsburg County Office of Emergency Management Assistant Director Lois Lupardus. Of those polled, Crowder Fire Chief Gary Brooks had been the only one opposed to reinstating the fire ban.

Kiowa Fire Chief Patrick Johnson said it’s absolutely too dangerous to allow outside burning in the area covered by the Kiowa Fire Department.

“It’s dry and we haven’t had enough vegetation,” Johnson said.

People start burning brush, the wind blows and things can quickly get out of hand, he said.

Since Dec. 29, the Kiowa fire department has made 35 runs, Johnson said — with the number rising much higher going back to November.

With so many fires and the fact that many volunteer firefighters also have their regular jobs, it can become difficult to get a crew together for every fire, he said.

Johnson doesn’t see any major relief anytime soon, unless there is plentiful rain.

Violation of the burn ban is punishable by up to a year in the county jail, a $500 fine, or both. The burn ban in Pittsburg County does include one provision, to allow outdoor grilling, which hasn’t presented much of a problem.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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