In addition to the heat-related deaths, destruction of farmland, and shortages of water, many states suffering under the weight of a suffocating heat wave are at an increased risk of wildfires as well. Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Utah have all battled various wildfire outbreaks already, and wind conditions in Oklahoma in particular are promising to keep things in a state of high alert. The National Weather Service, among other organizations, issued a wildfire warning for much of Oklahoma on Monday.
Texas, considered to be one of the states suffering the most under the ongoing drought conditions, has been battling wildfires as well. Two different fires had to be contained by local firefighters working in Burnet County on Monday, aided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department and the Texas Forest Service.
How bad is the threat of wildfire in these drought-stricken areas?
Bad enough that both national and state organizations are warning residents to be more careful. Different areas already affected by wildfires have had to be evacuated, including Cleveland and Pawnee Counties in Oklahoma, which had to be evacuated on Monday after a wildfire raged across some 4,000 acres of the state. In Oklahoma it is estimated that firefighters have had to contend with some 59 wildfires, in just this past weekend alone.
Arkansas has also been heavily hit by the threat of fire. The state's Forestry Commission reported on Monday that they are receiving hundreds of reports of fire every day. In a span of less than 24 hours this past weekend, Arkansas firefighters contained and suppressed some 34 different wildfires by their count. The risk of fire increased over the weekend due to heat-related lightening strikes and wind conditions.
Utah fire officials were still struggling to contain at least two larger fires in the state as of Sunday. One fire raging just outside of Cedar City had already consumed more than 8,500 acres, although firefighters reported having it 85 percent contained. Another, nicknamed the School Wash fire, was burning outside of Kane County. It was only 10 percent contained as of Sunday evening.
What are state officials recommending residents do to minimize the risk of wildfire?
Arkansas had expanded its burn ban to some 52 counties around the state as of Monday. Nearly half of those, or 25 counties, are under extreme burn bans, which means they have been designated as being at the highest risk. Specifically, burn bans prohibit residents from starting campfires or burning materials of any kind.
Oklahoma issued a burn ban earlier in the season, on July 14, that included some 45 of the state's counties. Due to the high incidence of wildfires since then, Governor Fallin expanded that ban to include all 77 Oklahoma counties on August 3. That means that residents cannot burn anything outdoors at all.
Arkansas had issued burn bans for nearly half of its counties as of Monday, while Utah has some scattered burn bans in effect as well. All states have hotlines where you can report fire activity to local authorities.
Vanessa Evans is a musician and former freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.
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