Severe Drought Leads To Challenges For Farmers, Ranchers And Firefighters

Parts of northeastern Oklahoma are going through one of the most severe droughts in years, leading to more burn bans.

The gusty winds and dry conditions are also putting firefighters on high alert.

News On 6 is learning how people are dealing with the dry conditions. 

Tulsa firefighters said the fire risk is high, and they have already put out five grass fires so far on Oct. 15.

Plus, farmers and ranchers across Green Country are doing what they can to deal with the dry weather.

"The weather impacts every day,” said Lyle Blakley. “Wet, dry, windy, cold, hot, it doesn't matter. The weather is always an impact."

Lyle Blakley and his wife Rae raise cattle and grow produce in a greenhouse nursery west of Oologah in Rogers County.

The extremely dry weather is not leaving cattle much grass to eat.

"This is probably the worst one that I remember since the 80s,” said Lyle. “It affected me personally more maybe just because of my location, but the fact that it's happening in October is even worse.”

This part of northeastern Oklahoma has had only 3 inches of rain in three months.

"It makes it very difficult,” said Rae.

The Blakleys have had to build several ponds in the last few years. They are trying to get another one done as quickly as possible for the next rainfall.

"The ones that are very low, if we get a hard freeze might freeze solid, and if we do get rain, we have very little time for the grass to grow back because we're predicting a possible frost tonight,” said Lyle.

Almost two dozen Oklahoma counties have burn bans in effect.

The conditions are putting firefighters to the test in Tulsa, and Sperry firefighters also put out a large grass fire.

"Standing out here in the dust and the dirt, we're always looking and watching for pneumonia,” said Lyle. “Fortunately, our cattle come out of the hard summer pretty good. They're still in good health, but the fact that we're feeding them helps them."

Hay grazer in the area should be six feet tall and ready to be harvested this time of year, but it is not making it, so farmers are having to buy hay to feed their cattle.

The Blakleys are doing what they can to make their hay last longer and are even paying for city water when that is an option.

"We work hard every day,” said Rae. “This just adds a little extra to it.”

Mayes, Adair and Craig Counties all issued burn bans on Oct. 15.