Fire Situation Report – April 8, 2022

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

OFS STATISTICS for April 7, 2021 OFS Preparedness Level: 1 - 2 - 3 - -5
NE Area – 3 Fires Burned 295 Acres (Cause: 3-Incendiary)
EC Area – No New Activity
SE Area – 2 Fires Burned 31 Acres (Cause: 2 – Incendiary)
Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area:
• Aggie Flats Fire (Cherokee County) – 240 Acres /
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area:
• 23 Fire (Beaver County) – 20,000 Acres (est.) / 0% Contained
• North Canadian Fire (Harper County) – 1,364 Acres / 20% Contained
• Britt Fire (Texas Forest Service) – 8,152 Acres / 50% Contained
• Beaver River Fire (Beaver County) – 24,537 Acres / 50% Contained
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: No New Activity
Fire Department Statistics: Light to Moderate Initial Attack Activity
Statewide Discussion: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the western one-half
of Oklahoma from Noon until 8:00 PM, and as well as McCurtain County in far
southeastern Oklahoma. Strong northwest winds continue again today although not
quite as powerful as yesterday coupled with continued dry conditions statewide. Fires
within the Warned Area will exhibit potential for extreme fire behavior and recent wildfire
activity will be challenged. Unfortunately, fire danger is expected to persist well into
next week with a return to south winds tomorrow winding up to potential for a
concerning fire-effective weather system on or around Tuesday.

Today: Dry atmospheric conditions and breezy conditions across Oklahoma today will boost fire danger indices across the state
with very-high indices in the western counties. Green-up is progressing, generally south of I-44, where barriers to fire spread
including roadsides, yard grasses and grazed pastures will serve to limit fire size and potential in large part. However, western
Oklahoma and much of north-central Oklahoma have readily available dormant fuels across the landscape. The strength of drying
in recent days has resulted in increasing Energy Release Component values which have proven accurate given resistance to
control and suppression difficulty on recent wildfires. With this in mind, large wildfire activity is expected to continue with a
moderate significant fire potential in western Oklahoma, and recent wildfires will require additional resources for extended periods
of time to gain full containment.
• Warned Area (Western Oklahoma): Afternoon relative humidity values will again fall into the 10-17% range this
afternoon following marginal overnight moisture recovery. With afternoon temperatures 62°-68°and clear skies, fine-dead
fuel moisture values will again tap 3% in most locations offering very receptive fuels. Northwest winds sustained 20-26
mph with some gusts near 35 mph will promote head fire rates of spread in rangeland fuels at 238-361 ft/min (2.7-4.1
mph) with flame lengths 15-20 ft. Fires will readily express problematic fire behavior, especially in brush fuel types where
juniper is present, including single/group tree torching and short-range spotting.
• North-Central/Northeastern Oklahoma: Elevated fire danger indices remain across the area with dormant fuels
dominating the landscape. Temperatures this afternoon 59°-62°, relative humidity values 19-23% and clear skies yielding
1-hour fuel moisture values at 5% will hold fuel receptiveness firmly in place. Northwest winds 16-22 mph with some gusts
in excess of 25 mph will support rapid rates of fire spread in grass-dominated fuels. Rates of spread in the 173-205 ft/min
with flame lengths around 13 ft should be expected on established wildfires.
• Warned Area (McCurtain County): Fire weather will be tapping critical thresholds today although ongoing herbaceous
green-up will serve to limit significant fire potential with moderated fire behavior and limited fuel receptiveness. Timber
fuels, however, remain largely available especially where a pine component is present. Temperature this afternoon will
be around 63° with afternoon relative humidity values 21-26%. 1-Hour fuel moisture will be 5%. Northwest winds sustained
16-20 mph with some gusts 24-30 mph will support potential for head fire rates of spread in timber-litter fuels at 27-41
ft/min with flame lengths 6-8 ft. Single and group tree torching should be anticipated.
Resources Available: (800) 800-2481
• OFS Suppression Group (Overhead, Engines, Dozers) – Assigned to 23 Fire in Beaver County
• OFS Suppression Group (Overhead, Engines, Dozers) – Weatherford
• 2 National Guard Helicopters w/ Bambi Buckets – Due to predicted winds, flights west of may not occur.
• 1 OHP Fixed-Wing Aircraft w/ OFS Operations Specialist

(CONTINUED)
Near-Term: Winds are forecasted to subside this evening becoming calm overnight with much cooler overnight temperatures
providing opportunity to improve containment on going wildfires. South winds return on Saturday coupled with much warmer
temperatures driving critical fire weather conditions in western Oklahoma over readily receptive fuels. Near-critical fire weather is
forecasted for Sunday noting that given the strength of drying, less-effective fire weather is required to produce troublesome fire
behavior. A weather system moving into Oklahoma early next week has potential to push in very concerning fire weather over
northwestern and western and western Oklahoma while offering some precipitation potential east.

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.