Garvin County is no longer under a burn ban, though emergency management and fire officials are encouraging residents to continue to exercise caution and burn responsibly as weather conditions can still change quickly.
The Garvin County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to lift a 14-day burn ban that was not due to expire until March 16.
Most areas of the county have experienced 2 to 3 inches of rainfall since the beginning of March, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet, with additional rainfall chances forecast for this week, which has helped ease extreme fire danger conditions for the moment, according to officials. However, even with the recent rainfall, much of the county remains under drought conditions.
Garvin County Emergency Management Director David Johnson said managing dry conditions and burn bans this time of year is often a tough balance for county officials because so many local agricultural producers depend on controlled or prescribed burns to manage their land.
While there are provisions in state statute that allow ag producers to conduct prescribed burns even during a burn ban, the process required to do so can be perceived as cumbersome by some producers.
Commissioners said even without a burn ban in place, it is always a good idea for county residents to let neighboring property owners know when they plan to burn on their own property.
Fire officials in the county are also asking residents to call Garvin County Dispatch at 405-238-9900, or their local fire department, before conducting a controlled burn to prevent unnecessary emergency responses.