After weeks of battling grassfires in hot and dry conditions, firefighters across northeast Oklahoma are getting a much-needed break as rain moves through the area.
Fire departments in Rogers and Nowata counties have been responding to frequent grassfires fueled by triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions.
At the Chelsea Fire Department, Chief Craig Sampson says crews are using the rain to clean and maintain their equipment while waiting for the next call.
“Today the guys are cleaning their gear, washing gear up, just trying to gear up for the next call to come in, but right now we’re enjoying it,” he said.
Sampson says Chelsea Fire is on pace to respond to the most calls in department history, in part because of an especially active grassfire season.
“I haven’t seen it this bad since the early 2000s,” Sampson said. “It’s anywhere from getting two grassfires a call to 10 a day.”
The department has about 20 volunteers who respond to fires throughout Rogers County and assist neighboring communities, including Nowata County.
The Nowata Fire Department responded to 31 grassfires in August alone.
Chief Brandon Jarvis says the repeated calls have taken a toll on firefighters, equipment and department budgets.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of wear and tear on our equipment, trying to keep up with the financial burden it puts on us plus all of our guys and gals that are working.”
The latest round of rain is giving firefighters a chance to recover, but Jarvis says more precipitation will be needed to significantly improve conditions.
“It’s a relief, for sure; it’s going to help,” Jarvis said. “We need a lot more, but we need it spread over time.”
Jarvis says the hot, dry weather can cause fires in fields and pastures to spread quickly.
And while firefighters are welcoming the rain, temperatures are expected to climb again in the coming days.
“If it would rain from now to November, I’d be good with it,” Jarvis said.
Several counties, including Tulsa, Rogers and Nowata, remain under burn bans. You can find all the counties in a burn ban here.