Oklahoma Senate Leader Seeks to Ease Burn Ban Criteria After Deadly Wildfires

Lonnie Paxton aims to give county commissioners more authority to issue burn bans amid fire risk concerns.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, a Republican from Tuttle, is pushing to change the state's strict criteria for counties to issue burn bans. Paxton, a volunteer firefighter, said the current rules prevented counties from enacting burn bans last year during a devastating wildfire outbreak that caused fatalities and injuries. He wants to allow county commissioners to issue temporary burn bans with a unanimous vote and consultation with the state agriculture commissioner.

Why it matters

Last year's wildfires in Oklahoma caused significant damage and loss of life, raising concerns about the state's ability to respond to fire risks. Paxton's proposal aims to give local officials more flexibility to enact burn bans and prevent similar disasters in the future.

The details

Under current Oklahoma law, the criteria for counties to issue burn bans is very strict, and only the governor has the authority to enact a statewide ban. Paxton said the governor has been "reluctant" to do so. Paxton's bill would allow county commissioners to issue a temporary burn ban of up to seven days with a unanimous vote and consultation with the state agriculture commissioner.

  • In 2025, devastating wildfires broke out across Oklahoma, causing fatalities and injuries.
  • On Monday, half of Oklahoma is under a red flag or fire weather watch, but only one county is currently in a burn ban.

The players

Lonnie Paxton

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem, a Republican from Tuttle and a long-time volunteer firefighter.

Kevin Stitt

The Governor of Oklahoma, who has been reluctant to issue statewide burn bans.

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What they’re saying

“It did all sorts of damage including some fatalities and a lot of injuries.”

— Lonnie Paxton, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem (koco.com)

“The governor always has the authority to issue a statewide ban. He's been somewhat reluctant during his time as governor for statewide burn bans. It's an issue that he's kind of dealt with and has decided that's not what he wants to do. Which is fine, probably should be a more local type of a deal.”

— Lonnie Paxton, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem (koco.com)

What’s next

Paxton's bill has passed out of a Senate committee and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges Oklahoma faces in balancing fire risk management and local control, as state leaders seek to empower county officials to better respond to dangerous wildfire conditions in their communities.