By Fox23.com News Staff
MAYES COUNTY, Okla. — Mayes County is currently under a burn ban due to risks of extreme fire danger in the area.
According to a resolution filed by the Mayes County Board of County Commissioners, “a majority of Mayes County Fire Chiefs support an immediate burn ban resolution” and recommend that there be no exceptions to the burn ban except for gas or electric grills that “may be used with no open exposed flames and a hooded cooking unit” on a 10×10 fire resistant surface.
Mayes County is in a severe drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor and the National Weather Service. Both organizations said no more than one-half inch of rain for the next three days.
Under the burn ban, Mayes County residents have been asked to not set fires to any “forest, grass, range, crop, or other wild lands, or to build a campfire or to burn trash or other material” that can cause a wild or grass fire.
Under the ban, “organized public pyrotechnics are allowed” as long as they’re done by trained professionals with approval from the Oklahoma State Fire Marshals Office and the local fire department.
The burn ban is effective immediately as of Monday, August 31 and will last two weeks. If conditions persist, the ban can be extended. It can also be removed at any time during the 14-day period if conditions improve.
