Northwest Range Fire Management Association, Inc

07/24/2026

Oklahoma Summers Have THE MOST BURN DAYS for Prescribed Fire and Brush Piles

Burn Day Conditions
Temperature: 35F - 101F
Humidity: 25% - 80%
Wind: 4 mph - 15 mph
No Rain During Burn Window

Burn Days Each Month
Jan: 15, Feb: 15, Mar: 16, Apr: 16,
May: 18, Jun: 17, Jul: 24, Aug: 23,
Sep: 22, Oct: 19, Nov: 18, Dec: 16

Fourteen years of weather data (1997-2004)
Burn Day = conditions for at least 3 consecutive hours

Read more in the factsheet! https://bit.ly/BurnDaysOSU

07/19/2026

The Prescribed Fire Cost Share Program is now open! 🔥

If you want assistance holding a prescribed burn on your land, you won't want to miss this opportunity.

Reach out to your local conservation district for assistance with the application or any questions: https://conservation.ok.gov/district-services-division/

Find the application here:
https://conservation.ok.gov/land-management-invasive-woody-species/

07/10/2026

ARS researchers in Miles City, MT, are working with American cattle ranchers to improve nutrition for herds using prescribed fires. Ranchers have typically deferred grazing for up to two seasons after a wildfire. Researchers are now finding that cattle prefer to graze in recently burned areas. The burned areas provide livestock with crude protein, fiber digestibility, and a higher mineral content.
Learn more at: https://scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-discoveries/plains/integrating-prescribed-fire-grazing-management-improved-nutrition

07/06/2026

Online Tools for Prescribed Fire: Mesonet OK-FIRE Prescription Planner

INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Enter desired weather conditions for your burn unit (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, etc.)
2) Select desired wind direction on dial
3) See dates/times when forecasted weather conditions meet your prescription

Commonly selected weather conditions for prescribed burning:
- 40-80% relative humidity
- 4-15 mph wind speed
- 35-110°F air temperature

Confirm safe weather conditions on site before burning!

Mesonet OK-FIRE Fire Prescription Planner: https://www.mesonet.org/index.php/okfire/fire_rx

07/01/2026

July Land and Pond Management Calendar!

Summer Burns (Jul-Sept): Wildlife mortality can be decreased with this burn timing. Ground-nesting birds are mostly finished nesting and fawns are now mobile.

Burn Old World Bluestem: This invasive crass can outcompete native grasses. Burning in summer can kill old world bluestem plants.

Cut Native Hay Fields: Early July cutting optimizes quantity and quality. Cut once per year and leave 4" stubble.

Monitor Summer Food Plots: Control weeds if needed. Top-dress nitrogen if plants show stress from deficiency.

Monitor Bass and Bluegill: If fish are in poor body condition, harvesting more to reduce numbers is recommended.

For more, check out the factsheet! https://bit.ly/LandPondOSU

06/17/2026

Hands-on Growing Season Burn Training
for Prescribed Burn Associations

July 11, 2026
Okmulgee County (exact burn location provided upon completed registration

Open To:
- PBA members across the region
- Landowners and producers interested in prescribed fire and PBAs

Registration Required:
- $20.00 fee (day of)
- Register at https://forms.office.com/r/H76SufAzuU

Training Topics Include:
- Burn planning & preparation
- Crew organization & communication
- Fire behavior & weather awareness
- Equipment use & field safety
- Coordinating & conducting a prescribed burn as a team
- Ignition & holding operations

Train in a real prescribed burn environment alongside experienced burn personnel.

For questions or addtional information contact:

Shelby Lofton, Agriculture /4-H/FRTEP Educator
Okmulgee County OSU Extension
918-756-1958
[email protected]

Michael Siegenthaler, OCCA PBA
Committee Chair
OCCA Prescribed Burn Association
918-809-8666

06/12/2026

06/03/2026

June Land and Pond Management Calendar

- Summer Haying: Haying native pastures in late June to early July is good for wildlife and improved hay quality.

- Summer Prescribed Fire: Plan growing season burns and prepare fire breaks.

- Spray Summer Weeds: Johnsongrass, Bermudagrass, sericea and perilla mint can be controlled in early summer.

- Seed Millet: In drained waterfowl impoundments, Japanese millet can be top seeded for food. Will likely reseed.

- Maintain Turkey Roosts: Remove small understory trees & shrubs especially redcedar and saltcedar.

- Inspect Pong Edges: Walk shoreline and look closely for erosion or sediment build up. Be aware that cattails can quickly take over shallow water.

https://bit.ly/LandPondOSU

06/02/2026

Researchers have quantified the economic good of prescribed burning.

A study in the journal Science analyzed U.S. Forest Service data from 285 wildfires that intersected with prescribed burning and other fuel treatments across 11 western states from 2017 to 2023 to measure how much damage was averted due to the treatments.

They found that prescribed burning, along with other forest fuel treatments, avoided the staggering costs of large and severe wildfires. Each dollar invested yielded $3.73 in expected benefits.


https://wildfiretoday.com/save-the-environment-and-the-economy-with-prescribed-burning-researchers-say/