Fire Danger in Kay County Due to Dry Conditions

Important Notice – Kay County

Fire Department officials in Kay County and surrounding areas are saying that even though the Burn-Ban is off for Kay County they are seeing fires getting out of control and causing damage.

Please use caution when burning outdoors as conditions are still very dry in Kay County and much of Oklahoma.

Fire Situation Report – March 2, 2022
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

Today: Clear skies and cool temperatures overnight will give way to above normal temperatures, tapping 80º in a few locations
along with very dry conditions as the bulk of the state will observe afternoon relative humidity values less than 20%. Fortunately,
winds will remain on the lighter side again today with light winds this morning becoming south to southwest sustained around 10
mph with limited gusts at peak heating this afternoon. Conditions will again moderate following sunset as temperatures cool and
winds again become light.
• Oklahoma Panhandle / Western Oklahoma: Temperatures will range from 75⁰-79⁰ with afternoon relative humidity
values 5-16% driving fine-dead fuel moisture values into the 2-3% range (very receptive). Light winds this morning will
become southerly this afternoon sustained 6-10 mph with some gusts during peak heating tapping 15 mph. Rangeland
fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 51-104 ft/min with flame lengths 8-10 ft. on established fires. Brush fuels will
exhibit problematic fire behavior including torching and very short-range spotting.
• Central Oklahoma: Under clear to partly cloudy skies, temperatures will warm into the 74º-80º range with afternoon
relative humidity values 13-17% resulting in fine-dead fuel moisture values in the critical range at 3% across most of the
area. Southwest winds 6-11 mph will drive head fire rates of spread 35-95 ft/min with flame lengths 10-14 ft. Brush fuels
will exhibit problematic fire behavior while timber fuels will exhibit moderated rates of spread around 25 ft/min.
• Eastern Oklahoma: Significant drying occurred yesterday with anomalously low afternoon relative humidity values
diminishing much of the benefit from recent precipitation. Temperatures will be well above normal at 76º-82º with relative
humidity values bottoming out 16-22%. With clear skies, fine-dead fuel moisture values will tap 3% in several locations
during the peak of the burning period. South-southwest winds sustained 5-10 mph will limit fire spread potential with
grass-dominated fuels exhibiting head fire rates of spread 52-104 ft/min with flame lengths 10-15 ft. Timber-litter ROS will
be kept in check at +/- 25 ft/min.
Thursday: Temperatures will again be above normal with low relative humidity values strengthening the drying of fuels and
increasing fire behavior potential. South winds will be a notch stronger than today or yesterday although remaining below critical
threshold. Fine-dead fuel moisture values will again register as low as 2% in the western Panhandle to 5% along the OK/AR border. Grass and rangeland fuel rates of spread to increase into the 80-130 ft/min range still offering good initial attack
opportunity.
Near-Term: Looking into the weekend, fire danger will increase Friday in the Oklahoma
Panhandle and northwestern Oklahoma with warm temperatures and increasing wind
speeds. Sky cover and increased dew point temperature will serve to keep concerning
fire danger in check across most of the central and eastern regions of the state. Fire
danger will spike on Saturday across the west and into central Oklahoma with a dryline
pushing nearer to the I-35 corridor followed by an approaching cold front. Current forecast
inputs currently hold back significant fire occurrence potential although new fire occurrence
and large fire potential are notable. Conditions are expected to moderate Sunday,
although further discernment of forecast information is warranted.

Burn Bans:
Refer to: https://ag.ok.gov/divisions/forestry-services/ for the most current burn ban
information and links to specific burn ban proclamations.