Kingfisher County commissioners voted a countywide burn ban effective immediately at their weekly meeting Monday.

District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek, who presided at the meeting in the absence of Chairman Heath Dobrovolny, said he had received requests from county fire chiefs to declare the ban, a part of the protocol for declaring a ban.

A lack of rain and searing heat throughout the month of July has dried foliage to the point any spark could trigger a wildfire.

County fire departments already were battling small rural fires Monday and Tuesday (see related story on Page 7).

A massive fire in Blaine County consumed 10,000 acres and kept hundreds of firefighters, the Oklahoma National Guard and other state agencies busy for nearly a week before it was safely

District 1 First Deputy contained.

The burn ban is for a two week period but may be rescinded by commissioners if substantial rain falls.

Under the resolution, bonfires, campfires, trash burning and fireworks are all illegal.

Exceptions include: •Welding, cutting torch or grinding, if over a nonflammable surface of at least 20 square feet and conducted with another person present with a pressurized hose or fire extinguisher to take care of any stray sparks.

•Outdoor grilling conducted over a nonflammable surface and away from flammable vegetation.

•Controlled burns with a NCRS-approved burn plan .

Violations of the ban are considered misdemeanors and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a $500 fine. Dennis Holmes and District 3 First Deputy Anthony Schwarz, who represented their districts in the absence of Commissioners Jeff Moss and Heath Dobrovolny, joined Shimanek in making the burn ban declaration unanimous.

Moss is recovering after recent surgery and Dobrovolny is on vacation.

Commissioners approved payment of a $36,946.50 invoice from Circuit Engineering District 8 for inspection of 141 county bridges.

Engineer Donnie Head reported that the inspection invoice covered half of the county’s bridges.

He reported that no serious problems were found, mostly channeling.

State law mandates regular bridge inspections.

The board also approved the county’s annual financial report, a detention transportation agreement with the Office of Juvenile Affairs and four county road right-of way agreements for pipeline road crossing permits in District 1.

The four permits for eight-inch pipeline crossings in district 1 include the following locations requested by James Davis Land LLC/Citizen Midstream: 10 miles east, 11 miles east, one mile north and 10 miles east and two miles north and 10 miles east of Okarche.

County Clerk Jeannie Boevers, minute clerk, and County Engineer Nik Smith also were present for the meeting along with Monty Taylor of Dover and Head.