Tillman County Burn Ban Extended Through October 26: What You Can and Can't Burn

Tillman County commissioners voted Monday to keep the county’s burn ban in place through October 26, citing extreme fire danger across the region. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including range fires, crop fires, bonfires, campfires, and trash or debris burning. Conditions across southwest Oklahoma have stayed dry and windy, and the board made clear that if the danger persists, the ban will keep getting renewed.

There are a few exceptions worth knowing. Propane-fueled construction equipment is allowed, and welding or grinding can be done over a 10-by-10-foot noncombustible surface when winds are under 10 mph with a fire watch present. LP and natural gas grills and charcoal cooking are permitted on a nonflammable surface at least five feet from flammable vegetation. Federal prescribed burns and agricultural producers following Oklahoma Forestry Service guidelines are also exempt.

The penalties are real. Violating the ban could land you up to a year in jail, a fine up to $500, or both. The board can lift the ban at any time by resolution, but until then, the smart move is simple: no outdoor burning, and keep an eye on the wind. Have you checked your property for dry brush and debris yet this season?