The Garvin County Board of Commissioners voted to extend a countywide burn ban for another 14 days during the board’s regular meeting Monday.
Garvin County has been under a burn ban since July 21. The ban on outdoor burning will extend through Aug. 15 unless conditions improve enough before then to warrant its cancellation by the board of commissioners.
Recent rain showers have provided little relief, with the Oklahoma Mesonet site southwest of Pauls Valley reporting only .49 inches of rainfall in the last 14 days, and the Byars site registering just .07 inches of rain for the same period.
U.S. drought monitor maps released Thursday indicate Garvin County is continuing to experience severe to extreme drought conditions.
The current burn ban prohibits “setting fire to any forest, grass range, crop or other wild lands” and outdoor burning, including campfires, bonfires and burning trash.
Gas grills and charcoal-fired cooking in a grill receptacle are permitted if the grill is on a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation.
Penalties for violating the burn ban can include a fine of up to $500 and up to a year in jail.
Several neighboring counties are also under burn bans including Pontotoc County, which issued its own 14-day burn ban Monday.
