Western Oklahoma Removed From Burn Ban

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry on Tuesday lifted the state burn ban for the last 20 counties in western Oklahoma.<br/><br/>Henry said he made the decision based on recent rainfall, greening

Tuesday, May 16th 2006, 5:36 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry on Tuesday lifted the state burn ban for the last 20 counties in western Oklahoma.

Henry said he made the decision based on recent rainfall, greening vegetation and the latest weather data.

"The recent rainfall has provided enough relief to remove the burn ban, but Oklahomans must still use common sense and exercise extreme caution when they are involved with any type of outdoor burning," Henry said.

The burn ban initially implemented in November for the entire state included such things as outdoor charcoal grilling, campfires, and the burning of brush, leaves or other materials.

It was issued because of severe drought conditions that touched off wildfires with regularity last year and the first few months of this year, scorching hundreds of thousands of acres.

Ten southeastern Oklahoma counties were removed from the burn ban in March, and on May 3, Henry lifted the ban for all but 20 western Oklahoma counties.