Conditions exist, but Comanche County not yet ready for burn ban

Comanche County now meets the state definition that would allow a burn ban to be put into place.

But, County Emergency Management Director Clint Langford said he doesn’t plan to take that step yet, though he will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Six counties in Oklahoma’s southwest region have burn bans in place because of dangerously dry conditions, but Langford has resisted taking that step because Comanche County was not in the Severe Drought category. Under state regulations, a county must be in Severe or worse drought conditions before a burn ban can be enforced. So, while commissioners in other counties in the region imposed bans, Comanche County has not.

The county moved into the Severe category last week, with the release of the latest drought monitor on Thursday. According to that monitor, the western half of Comanche County is in the Severe category while the eastern half remains in the Moderate drought category. State officials and regional emergency responders have said dry conditions are more extreme the further west and south you go.

Multiple counties in the region have significant portions of their land in the Extreme drought category (a step beyond Severe), to include Cotton, Jackson, Harmon, Greer, Kiowa and Tillman. According to the Oklahoma Forestry Services, Jefferson, Cotton, Tillman, Jackson, Greer and Harmon counties all have burn bans in place.

Langford said he and members of fire departments across the county will stay in close contact to monitor the situation in Comanche County and would make a recommendation for a burn ban, should conditions warrant. That recommendation would be taken to the Comanche County Board of Commissioners, which has the authority to issue the ban.

Langford said while weather conditions have caused dry vegetation, the regulations imposed under a burn ban have wide-reaching consequences for residents and businesses, which is why he and county fire chiefs continue to monitor the situation but haven’t yet made a recommendation.