Pawnee County Residents Report Falling Ash, Haze In Air

Pawnee County residents are reporting falling ash and a smokey haze stemming from several fires burning in the area around Cleveland, Terlton and Pawnee. All but one of the fires is a prescribed burn, according to Emergency Management Director Mark Randell.

Randell said a grassfire located west of Pawnee by 108 Highway is the only fire that is not a controlled burn.

The Department of Environmental Quality earlier issued a fine particulate matter health advisory for much of central and northeastern Oklahoma. The concentration of matter in the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Individuals with respiratory disease, heart disease, children and the elderly should avoid prolonged exertion, the advisory states.