Garvin County is under a 14-day burn ban that will run through Aug. 31.
The Garvin County Board of Commissioners approved the ban on all outdoor burning during their regular meeting Monday morning, due to excessively dry conditions and extreme temperatures which are forecast to continue through at least the next 10 days.
Fire chiefs across the county were divided when polled last week on whether it was time to put a burn ban in place, according to Garvin County Emergency Management Director David Johnson, who said fire officials on the western side of the county were in favor of the ban, while those in eastern sections were not quite ready to take that step.
Johnson advised the board that Garvin County does meet the legal criteria for the ban due to drought conditions and extreme heat.
As of Monday morning, Garvin County is one of 23 counties to have an active burn ban resolution in place. Those include all counties along Interstate 35 from the Red River to north of Guthrie.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning including campfires, bonfires and burning of trash. It does allow for grilling in a gas or charcoal grill with the proper precautions, and state law includes exceptions for agricultural producers who need to use prescribed fire to manage land resources, provided proper paperwork and procedures are followed. More information on prescribed fire can be obtained from the Garvin County Extension Office or the State Forestry Department.
Click HERE to read the full burn ban resolution.
