Published: January 06, 2009 10:59 am         

Outdoor burn ban still on

Cold temperatures and the threat of freezing rain Monday had absolutely no impact on an outdoor burn ban that remains in place for all of Garvin County.

All three county commissioners again signed a resolution during their weekly meeting that sends the burn ban into its fifth straight week.

That means fire chiefs in the county have again concluded the conditions outside are still dry enough to represent a fire danger.

For that reason the chiefs again banded together to recommend another week of the ban.

“It’s still dry out there,” said District 2 Commissioner Shon Richardson, who added that little or no rain has been reported in the area in recent days.

The ban was initially recommended by the Garvin County Fire Chiefs Association and approved by the three commissioners on Dec. 8.

That ban can only remain in place if commissioners give their OK on a weekly basis. Their final word comes after a recommendation by the area fire chiefs.

During Monday’s meeting they all agreed the ban could potentially continue for some time.

In fact, they said the county was in a high fire danger zone early this week because of the steady winds and low humidity that combined with the dry conditions.

“Until we get moisture this will stay in place,” District 3 Commissioner Johnny Mann said about the ban. Mann also serves as the volunteer fire chief for Stratford’s fire department.

Also approving the burn ban resolution was District 1 Commissioner Kenneth Holden.

With the ban in place the public is reminded that no outdoor burning is allowed anywhere in the county.

That includes no burning of trash or such activities as campfires.

Allowed but only under strict limitations are outdoor grilling and welding.

Commissioners indicated only a very few incidents have been reported of someone violating the ban.

“I haven’t heard of too many times when someone was violating the burn ban,” Richardson said.

He added it was his understanding those times usually involved an individual claiming to be unaware of the ban.

Anyone convicted of violating the burn ban could be subject to a fine of up to $500 and/or a jail term of no more than one year.

     

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