50 Grass Fires In 10 Days: Warm, Dry Conditions Increase Fire Risk In Oklahoma City

Just 10 days into the new year and the Oklahoma City Fire Department has already responded to nearly 50 grass fires.

Much of Oklahoma is in severe or extreme drought conditions, according to U.S. Drought Monitor. Combined with warm temperatures, wind gusts and low humidity, there is an increased risk of fires. The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a fire weather watch for Wednesday afternoon for western Oklahoma from the Woodward area down to Altus.

While Oklahoma City is not under the fire weather watch, the fire department typically sees an influx of grass fires this time of year. District Chief and Public Information Officer Scott Douglas said from January through March last year, the Fire Department responded to 200 grass fires per month.

Since Jan. 1, 2023, the fire department has responded to nearly 50 grass fires, Douglas said.

Among those was a grass fire that erupted Monday on Hefner Road, near the intersection of Bryant Avenue. Douglas said a truck suffered a blown tire, causing the rim to run on the road and creating sparks, which ignited the dry vegetation along the road.

Living right across the street from that fire is Dale Phillips. He spotted the blaze as he was getting set to head out.

"Just getting ready to pull out of the big garage coming out through here. So I just looked up this way and saw the grass burning," said Phillips

Flames were dozens of feet high. Fortunately, the fire did not spread onto Phillips' property.

"The wind was blowing really good to the north so I felt pretty safe," said Phillips. "If it had been blowing the other way, I would have been getting water hoses out."

Phillips called 911 and Oklahoma City firefighters extinguished the blaze.

"It scared me to death, yes. I thanked the Lord that I was still here when it started," said Phillips. "Grateful I saw it that quick. Grateful I hadn't left my house."

Douglas said when conditions are this susceptible to fires, there are things residents can do to protect their homes.

"Within 30 feet of your house, you want to eliminate as many fuel sources as possible. So we see a lot of people that store firewood. You have a dog house or some storage around close to your house. You want to eliminate all this away from your home," said Douglas. "What happens is it heightens these flames, and these flames can then get into the eave of your house."

The Oklahoma City Fire Department posted a graphic with other ways people can protect their homes from fires. Residents are advised to clear off pine needles, dead leaves and anything else that can burn from their rooflines, gutters, decks, porches patios, and fence lines. People can also add screens to vents and other openings around their homes to prevent embers carried by the wind from getting inside. In addition, homeowners can trim back shrubs or tree branches that are closer than 5 feet from their homes.

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