Garvin County remains under burn ban

The Garvin County Board of Commissioners voted to issue another 14-day burn ban resolution Monday, replacing the existing ban which was set to expire. The new resolution extends through Aug. 29, unless conditions improve significantly and the burn ban is rescinded by the Board of Commissioners.

Garvin County has been under continuous burn bans since mid-July.

U.S. drought monitor maps released last week show drought conditions continue to worsen, with the southern half of the state, including Garvin County, now experiencing extreme drought.

More than 40 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties are currently under a burn ban.

Garvin County’s burn ban resolution prohibits “setting fire to any forest, grass range, crop or other wild lands” and prohibits 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.

  • The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.
    The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC.