A two-week fire ban went into effect Monday immediately after an emergency meeting of Kingfisher County commissioners.

The emergency meeting came immediately after commissioners’ regular weekly meeting.

District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek said he had conferred with a majority of county fire department chiefs about the burn ban, meeting state law requirements.

Gale force winds pummeled the county and state last week, which along with extreme drought conditions, created severe fire dangers.

The emergency burn ban took effect at 9:28 a.m. Monday with the proclamation approval by commissioners.

The burn ban states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grassland, range, crop, or any other wildlands or to build a bonfi re, campfire or burn trash. The ban includes the use of fireworks for private use.

Exceptions to the burn ban include:

Welding, cutting torch or grinding

1. When conducted over a non-flammable surface at least 20 feet by 20 feet.

2. Winds must be less than 15 miles per hour.

3. A fire watchman, other than welder, is posted at the site with pressurized water or a fire extinguisher.

Outdoor grilling

LPG, charcoal-fired cooking is acceptable and natural gas grills for outdoor grilling are permitted as long as conducted in a grilling receptacle and provided the grilling is done over a non-flammable surface and away from flammable vegetation.

Controlled Burn

Land owner must have a NRCS approved burn plan that is in compliance with fire chiefs and law enforcement.

Enforcement of the resolution can be carried out by any law enforcement officer. The penalty for violating the ban, a misdemeanor, is $500 and-or imprisonment for up to one year.