Commissioners issue burn ban for Coal County

The Coal County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution on December 8 that prohibits all outdoor burning in the county, including controlled burns, bonfires, campfires, and trash burning.

The burn ban became effective on December 8 and will remain in place until Monday, December 20. If extreme fire danger conditions persist, subsequent resolutions may be passed.

According to Oklahoma Forestry Services, the following counties are under burn bans effective December l4: Coal, Garvin, Stephens, Jefferson, Alfalfa, Major, Cimarron and Texas.

Exceptions to the fire prohibition and the appropriate precautionary measures to be taken are as follows:

Outdoor campfires or bonfires are prohibited. LPG and natural gas grills and charcoal fired cooking outside in a grilling receptacle are permitted provided that the activity is conducted over a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation. Coleman-type pressurized stoves are exempt. However, any fire resulting from grilling or the use of one of these cookers or stoves is still an illegal fire.

Extreme caution is advised with welding/cutting torch/ grinding activities. This type activity is to be conducted over a non-combustible surface at least 10 feet by 10 feet. Wind speeds must be less than 20 mph, and a pressurized water or fire extinguisher must be present at site.

Gas vents and flares associated with the extraction of oil and gas are generally considered exempt as long as the top of the vent pipe is raised well above the surrounding vegetation. Sludge pits are covered under the ban and should not be burned while the ban is in effect.

Enforcement of the commissioners’ resolution may be carried out by any law enforcement officer of the state. Any person convicted of violating the resolution shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both fine and imprisonment.