Thursday, July 14, 2022 - Over the past two weeks, Sequoyah County has been experiencing 100-plus degree temperatures with little to no rainfall. This pattern of weather is expected to continue, which has county officials concerned regarding the fire danger it has created for the area.
Sequoyah County Emergency Manager Steve Rutherford is warning residents of these dry and potentially dangerous conditions. Rutherford stated, "At this time there is not a burn ban effective for our area, however, burning is highly discouraged right now."
Although Sequoyah County is dealing with abnormally dry conditions, a burn ban cannot be issued until the county meets the criteria of a severe drought. With next week’s temperatures forecasted to soar even higher, these conditions are expected to worsen.
"The fire danger is elevated at this time for the entire county. If a fire sparks right now, it can lead to a very dangerous situation in no time," Rutherford said. "Just yesterday alone, area firefighters were dispatched to five grass fires. Luckily, no one was hurt. However, one of the fires would have threatened area homes if it wasn’t for the fire department's swift action."
Rutherford will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates as needed.
Lindsie Dyer, Staff Writer
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