Given the current and predicted fire danger, Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) activated the South-Central Forest Fire Compact and ordered additional wildland firefighting resources from across the southeastern US. Fire danger across much of Oklahoma will continue to be very high to extreme for the next several days, including the upcoming weekend and into early next week. The potential for fires to escape initial attack efforts will also present challenges for firefighting resources.
Firefighting resources, including personnel, engines, and dozers, arrived from Alabama, Kentucky and Louisiana Thursday afternoon. Additional resources from Georgia and Mississippi will be operational today.
“As OFS resources have begun to be stretched thin and we could no longer meet the suppression needs, we are very appreciative of other state forestry agencies sending this additional help,” said State Forester, George Geissler.
Resources have been divided into two suppression groups to increase OFS operational capacity and response times. Resources will be prepositioned in areas identified with the highest fire danger and then dispatched to active wildland fires as needed.
In addition to OFS firefighters and prepositioned resources, federal and state firefighting aircraft, and county wildland task forces are also prepared for mobilization.
Oklahoma Forestry Services is the state’s lead agency related to wildland fire prevention and protection. For additional information about wildfires, visit www.forestry.ok.gov/fireblog.
Note to Media:
For the latest Oklahoma “Daily Wildfire Situation Report” visit www.forestry.ok.gov and click the link on the homepage (green box on right hand side.) The report contains information about recent fire activity, predicted fire weather and a link for current burn bans.
