Mesonet connection, 04/2011, v.2 no.3

              Volume 2 — Issue 3 — April 2011 co n n e c t io n
www.mesonet.org
An estimated 2.5 million acres are burned annu-ally
across Oklahoma, 10 percent by wildfire and 90
percent by prescribed burning. During multiple wildfire
outbreaks in March, thousands of acres burned across
the state. All 77 Oklahoma counties were placed in a
state of emergency due to wildfires on March 11, 2011.
Wildfire season typically begins during the drydown of
vegetation in the fall and lasts until the greenup period
in the spring. However, wildfires can occur anytime of
year in Oklahoma.
“The main factors contributing to wildfires are the
amount and distribution of dead and live fuels, their
moisture levels and weather factors,” said J. D. Carl-son,
OK-FIRE program manager.
When relative humidity drops below 35 percent and
wind speed surpasses 20 mph, fire danger increases.
As relative humidity drops and wind speed rises, fires
become difficult to contain and can spread quickly.
On March 11, 2011, 42 fires were reported statewide
and more than 30 homes were destroyed, according
to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Manage-ment.
“Relative humidity percentages in the mid-teens, com-bined
with afternoon sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph
and you had the setting for a major fire outbreak,” Carl-son
said.
The Mesonet’s OK-FIRE website is designed to help
monitor and assess fire danger across Oklahoma. It
features recent, current and forecast products for fire
weather, fire danger and smoke dispersion.
“We use OK-FIRE to support fire departments in the
field during an incident and help the county commis-sioner
monitor conditions that could lead to a burn
UpF lIanmes
ban,” said Lloyd Colston, Director of Altus Emergency Man-agement.
To access OK-FIRE, visit www.mesonet.org and click the OK-FIRE
button on the main page. This will direct you to the OK-FIRE
website.
“As grasses begin to turn green in April, fire danger will begin
to subside,” Carlson said. “However, if the drought continues,
we could see wildfires continue into the summer months.”