Dramatic Increase in Oklahoma Wildfires Causing Concern

Data from the Oklahoma Forestry Services shows that wildfires in Oklahoma so far this month have burned more than sixty times the average recent acreage.

The Oklahoman reports that since May 2005, the state has averaged 454 acres burned from May wildfires. So far this month, more than 30,000 acres have been burned across the state.

Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow says that if things don’t change, fire crews will be in for a long summer. State climatologist Gary McManus says that while drought conditions are most extreme in the Panhandle, western and southwestern portions of the state, all of Oklahoma is in dire need of precipitation.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Trends Wildfire Oklahoma