The City of Oklahoma City, in coordination with the Oklahoma Forestry Service, has scheduled a prescribed burn on Tuesday, May 13, and/or Wednesday, May 14, weather permitting.

The goal is to burn several brush piles as part of a hazard fuels reduction project on 374 acres of land located between Douglas Boulevard and Post Road, and between SE 59th Street and SE 74th Street, which is adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base (TAFB).

Crews plan to begin the burn around 9 a.m., with operations expected to last approximately 10 hours.

The property, located just north of I-240, is owned and maintained by the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust and lies adjacent to one of the base’s runways. The prescribed burn was requested by base officials to support land management and safety initiatives.

The Oklahoma City Fire Department will be on site to assist with fire management and ensure safety.

Residents and businesses in the area should be aware of the planned burn and expect to see smoke throughout the day. Drivers on I-240 near the base are advised to use caution and remain alert for smoke in the vicinity.

“We have been looking for an opportunity where the piles are dry enough to burn, but fire danger is low,” Drew Daily, Deputy Fire Chief with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said. “Moisture and wind must meet specific criteria to ensure a safe and effective burn, which remains our top priority.”

In 2024, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust entered into an agreement with the Oklahoma Forestry Service to conduct this and other prescribed burns as part of a comprehensive land management program. The Trust has performed several prescribed burns in recent years to reduce wildfire risk and maintain healthy ecosystems.

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Media Contact: Jasmine Morris, (405) 297-1950, jasmine.morris@okc.gov