Parts of northeast Oklahoma are experiencing one of the worst droughts in years, prompting more burn bans.

The gusty wind and dry conditions also put firefighters on high alert.

News On 6 learns how people are dealing with the drought.

Tulsa firefighters said the fire danger is high and they have already extinguished five grass fires so far on Oct. 15.

Additionally, farmers and ranchers across the Green Country are doing what they can to cope with the dry weather.

“The weather affects every day,” Lyle Blakley said. “Wet, dry, windy, cold, hot, it doesn’t matter. The weather always has an influence.”

Lyle Blakley and his wife Rae raise cattle and grow produce in a greenhouse nursery west of Oologah in Rogers County.

The extremely dry weather doesn’t leave much grass for the cattle to eat.

“This is probably the worst thing I remember since the ’80s,” Lyle said. “It affected me more personally, maybe just because of where I live, but the fact that it’s happening in October is even worse.”

This part of northeastern Oklahoma has only received 3 inches of rain in three months.

“That makes it very difficult,” Rae said.

The Blakleys have had to build several ponds in recent years. They try to get another one ready as quickly as possible for the next rain.

“The plants that are very low could freeze completely in a hard frost, and if it rains we have very little time for the grass to grow back because we are forecasting possible frost tonight,” Lyle said.

Nearly two dozen Oklahoma counties have burn bans in place.

Conditions are testing firefighters in Tulsa, and Sperry firefighters also extinguished a large grass fire.

“When we’re out here in the dust and dirt, we’re always on the lookout for pneumonia,” Lyle said. “Luckily our cattle survived the harsh summer pretty well. They are still in good health, but the fact is that we feed them helps them.”

The hay pasture in the area should be six feet tall and ready for harvest this time of year, but it doesn’t make it, so farmers have to buy hay to feed their livestock.

The Blakleys do what they can to extend the life of their hay, even paying for city water when possible.

“We work hard every day,” Rae said. “It’s just that little bit extra.”

Mayes, Adair and Craig counties all issued burn bans on Oct. 15.