BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire Management Eastern OK Region

02/27/2026

Very dry air will again settle over Oklahoma today along with persistent above normal temperatures increasing fire danger today across the state. The strongest alignment of the fuels, weather and topography inputs to the fire environment will develop this afternoon north of I-44 noting that very dry fuels across the state continue to exhibit high resistance to control on going wildfires. Please avoid areas where fires do occur to facilitate firefighter access to the scene.

To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/oksitrep

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02/26/2026

Increased wildfire occurrence is expected to continue into the weekend ahead of improving rain chances next week. Initial attack activity continue to prove challenging with high resistance to control and problematic fire behavior including torching and spotting. Please consider fire behavior potential prior to any outdoor burning activities. For more on properly conducting prescribed fires, refer to the many Fact Sheets that have been produced by our partners with the OSU Extension available here: https://extension.okstate.edu/search-results.html?q=prescribed+fire+-filetype%3Apdf+site%3Aextension.okstate.edu%2Ffact-sheets%2F&site=extension.okstate.edu%2Ffact-sheets%2F

To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/oksitrep

To subscribe to the SitRep go to: bit.ly/sitrepsignup

02/26/2026

02/25/2026

Calmer winds will throttle back fire spread potential today although very dry fuels continue to exhibit resistance to control adding to suppression difficulty for firefighters across Oklahoma. While a slight downturn in fire danger exists today, please remain vigilant as elevated fire weather over very dry fuels will return Friday and Saturday.

Consider delaying outdoor burning activities.
Do not discard ci******es from vehicles.
Check your trailer chains to ensure they are not dragging.
Avoid parking in dry grass.
Report smoke or fire to 911.

To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/oksitrep

To subscribe to the SitRep go to: bit.ly/sitrepsignup

02/24/2026

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for a large area in Oklahoma today given elevated to near-critical fire weather over very dry fuels. Above-normal to exceptional dormant fuel loading across most of Oklahoma requires less-than-critical fire weather to support problematic or extreme fire behavior. Recent fires have proven that fuels are exhibiting resistance to control adding to wildfire suppression difficulty. Given fire behavior on going fires, heavier resource commitment for extended periods of time is required to contain wildfires. Note that additional counties have registered burn bans in recent days.

To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/oksitrep

To subscribe to the SitRep go to: bit.ly/sitrepsignup

02/19/2026

Good morning,

Red Flag Warning in place for most of Oklahoma as very dry air again surges across the state priming wildland fuels to support rapid rates if fire spread as above normal temperatures and windy conditions continue. An approaching cold front will challenge control lines on recent wildland fire activity and present potential for changes in spread direction this afternoon.

Avoid all activities that may spark a wildfire today! If you have had any outdoor burning, prescribed burning or controlled burns in recent days, please take the time to ensure that they are dead out and not the source of new wildfires today!

To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/oksitrep

To subscribe to the SitRep go to: bit.ly/sitrepsignup

02/05/2026

The Department of the Interior is opening doors for Native youth!

A new partnership between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education will provide hands-on training and mentorship for careers in wildland firefighting. This initiative creates clear school-to-career pathways while strengthening tribal communities and public safety.

👉 Learn more about the Native Youth Firefighter Training Program: https://ow.ly/eFpy50Y8j47

12/30/2025

The BIA Forestry & Wildland Fire Management Eastern OK Region is hiring a permanent full-time GW-8 wildland firefighter in Oklahoma! This position will close on January 6, 2026.
👨‍🚒GW-8 Wildland Firefighter - Fuels (permanent, FT)
💰$66,948 to - $87,038 per year
🏡Duty location in Seminole, OK.
🛫Occasional travel is required for work assignments and/or training. May require travel by light fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. Frequent travel may be required during peak fire activity.
‼️Learn more and apply online at www.usajobs.gov/job/848346600
📸Photo by National Park Service.

12/22/2025

🚨 Oklahoma Wildfire Risk Update 🚨

Oklahoma Forestry Services recently completed its dormant season fuel loading assessment, and the results are concerning.

🌾 What we’re seeing:
• Fuel loading is above normal across most of Oklahoma
• ~33 million acres rated above normal
• ~6.5 million acres showing exceptional fuel loading

These findings are based on annual photo plots and on-the-ground verification tied to rainfall, drought conditions, and grassland production data.

🔥 Why this matters:
More fuel means hotter, faster-moving fires with longer flame lengths. When fuels dry out, even less-than-critical fire weather can lead to extreme fire behavior and difficult suppression.

🏡 What you can do now:
If you have grass, brush, or trees near homes or buildings, take action before fire season peaks:
✔ Create a 30–100 ft defensible space
✔ Mow grasses short
✔ Remove brush and debris
✔ Trim low tree limbs to 6 ft (head height)

Reducing fuel today can make a life-saving difference tomorrow.

👉 Learn more about wildfire preparedness and defensible space at forestry.ok.gov

12/19/2025

🎄It’s the holiday surprise no one wanted.
A new population of emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed at Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur (Murray County).

This brings Oklahoma’s EAB-positive counties to seven and the invasive beetle continues to spread across the state. While EAB can fly up to 10 miles per year, its favorite way to travel is hitchhiking in firewood.

Help protect Oklahoma’s ash trees—burn firewood where you buy it and don’t move it.
👉

11/17/2025

Generations before modern wildland fire crews took shape, Indigenous communities were already using fire to renew the land. That legacy lives on through the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which made history as the first Forest Service-funded tribal wildland fire module, a 10-person team dedicated to prescribed burning and fuel reduction.

Formed years ago, the crew’s work built on traditional knowledge and has helped to strengthen the culture of prescribed fire across the South. Their efforts have helped train hundreds of tribal members and shown how collaboration across boundaries sustains healthy, resilient forests.

Want to learn more? Visit southernforests.org/2024/05/23/one-nation-helping-another-nation-choctaw-nation-fire-crew-gets-their-start-in-southern-region/