Osage County one of 11 counties added to state burn ban

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Eleven more Oklahoma counties, including 10 in the northwestern and western parts of the state, were added Wednesday to a ban on outdoor burning. <br><br>Gov. Frank Keating signed

Wednesday, April 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Eleven more Oklahoma counties, including 10 in the northwestern and western parts of the state, were added Wednesday to a ban on outdoor burning.

Gov. Frank Keating signed an executive order banning outdoor burning in the counties due to a danger of wildfires caused by dry weather and lack of significant rainfall.

``Drought conditions continue to worsen and local fire departments are reporting increasing levels of activity,'' Keating said. The governor urged residents of the counties to be careful when working with fire.

Counties added to the ban are Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Grant, Harper, Osage, Woods and Woodward.

They join Texas County, where a ban on outdoor burning has been in effect since July 31.

A red flag fire alert is in effect in 46 other counties, mostly in central and southwestern Oklahoma.

The burn ban prohibits fires in forests, grasslands and marshes as well as campfires and trash fires.

Gas and charcoal grilling and the burning of wheat stubble are not included in the burn ban. Organized public fireworks displays approved by local authorities or the state Fire Marshal's Office are also exempt.