Intense Drying Conditions Have Prompted a Notable Increase in Wildfire Activity Across Oklahoma

NE Area – 8 Fires Burned 77.5 Acres (Cause: 1-Escaped Debris, 3-Equipment, 4-Incendiary)

EC Area – 5 Fires Burned 1,141 Acres (Cause: 5-Incendiary)

SE Area – 24 Fires Burned 5,665.1Acres (Cause: 3-Escaped Debris, 1-Electrical, 20-Incendiary)

Large / Significant Fire Activity within the OFS Protection Area:
• Turkey Creek Fire (Atoka County) – 370 Acres / 25% Contained
• Kerns Ranch Fire (Pushmataha County) – 3,500 est. Acres / 25% Contained
• Crum Creek Fire (Pushmataha County) – 135 Acres / 50% Contained
• Rereg Road Fire (McCurtain County) – 260 Acres / 80% Contained
• Solomon’s Grave Fire (Pushmataha County) – 414 Acres / 70% Contained
• Blue Hole Fire (McCurtain County) – 1,100 est. Acres / 60% Contained
• Dry Creek Fire (Pushmataha County) – 27 Acres / 80% Contained, 2 Structures
• House Pad Fire (McCurtain County) – 15 Acres / 60% Contained, 1 Structure Lost
Fire Activity with OFS Response outside of the Protection Area: 3 Fires Burned 352 Acres
• Four Mile Creek Fire (Lincoln County) – 300 est. acres / 25% Contained, 1 Firefighter Injury
OFS Prescribed Fire Activity: No New Activity
Fire Department Statistics: Moderate Initial Attack Activity
• Billings Fire (Noble County) – 25 acres / 90% Contained, 1 Civilian Fatality/7 Civilian Injuries

Statewide Discussion:
Intense drying conditions have prompted a notable increase in wildfire activity across Oklahoma.
Continued warm temperatures and an increasing departure from normal rainfall have resulted in declining live-fuel moisture values
and increasing fuel availability. Upper-level soil moisture deficits translate into increased resistance during active fire suppression
operations along with increased resource commitment to meet control standards of wildfire incidents.

Southeastern & South-Central Oklahoma: Relative humidity values will fall into the 17-29% range as temperatures warm to
87°-93° under clear skies. Fine-dead fuel moisture values will register 4% across most of the area during peak burning conditions.
South to southeast winds sustained 8-13 mph gusting this afternoon up to 20 mph will support head fire rates of spread around
70 ft/min with flame lengths 8-13 ft. Timber litter will exhibit head fire rates of spread 15-20 ft/min with flame lengths 4.5-7 ft. Pine
dominated fuels will exhibit problematic fire behavior with single/group tree torching, short-range spotting and potential transition
to extreme fire behavior with crown runs.

Western & North-central Oklahoma: Rangeland fuels will exhibit notable resistance to control efforts given the depth of drying
in recent days. Temperatures will range from 80°-87° with relative humidity values 23-28% under clear skies supporting fine-dead
fuel moisture values at 4%. Light northerly winds this morning will become northeast to east this afternoon sustained 7-12 mph
with limited gusts in the afternoon.

Northeastern Oklahoma: Easterly to southeast winds are expected to persist throughout the day sustained 5-12 mph with some
gusts nearing 20 mph this afternoon. Temperatures will top out at 82°-89° under clear skies with afternoon relative humidity values
21-28% yielding fine-dead fuel moisture values 4-5%. Grass-dominated fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 70-95 ft/min
with flame lengths 11-14 ft. Timber litter will exhibit ROS 15-22 ft/min with FL 4-6.5 ft.
Winds are expected to become generally calm overnight with Thursday bringing very similar fire behavior conditions although wind
direction will shift back to a southerly flow.