LITTLE ROCK – Due to current and predicted
high wildfire conditions, outdoor
burning is discouraged across Arkansas. 51
Arkansas counties are under active Burn
Bans, which are declared by County Judges.
53 Arkansas counties have been declared
under High Wildfire Danger by Arkansas Forestry
Commission (AFC) personnel and fire
weather specialists. The National Weather
Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for
south, central, and east Arkansas through
the weekend. Yesterday was among the highest
days for wildfire frequency in Arkansas
for 2015, with approximately 28 wildfires,
and more than 500 acres burned.
With so many expected in the woods this
weekend, for the opening of muzzleloading
season and optimal hiking/camping weather,
the AFC is working harder than ever to
spread the word about the necessity for
wildfire safety and wildfire awareness until
weather conditions change. As of yesterday
at 3 p.m., 12,732 acres have burned in Arkansas,
at 996 reported wildfires. Yesterday,
approximately 500+ acres burned in approximately
28 wildfires (total numbers are still
be tallied from fire reports). 2015 wildfire
statistics are relatively low compared to the
last year of high Arkansas wildfire frequency
–which was 2012, when 34,434 acres burned.
In both 2013 and 2014, Arkansas experienced
lower-than-normal wildfire frequency. Arkansas
has had good growing seasons this
year and the previous two years, alongside
fewer wildfires,
which also means more fuels are on the
ground for wildfires to burn.
“The unusually dry and
hot conditions for October
add to the problem of low
humidity and gusty winds,
all on a weekend when many
Arkansans will be in the
woods,” State Forester Joe
Fox said.
“We encourage Arkansans
to enjoy our forests and
wildlife, however, we stress
heavily to use extreme caution
with any type of flames,
to avoid all outdoor burning,
and to report wildfires
quickly,” he said.
October is a normal time
of year for Arkansas to experience
heightened wildfire
danger, however the dry
conditions and low humidity
present unique conditions
which contribute to heightened
wildfire danger.
Due to conditions, most
AFC personnel will not be
hunting, but will be on full
alert to respond to wildfire
emergencies. Ground crews
and dozers are available to
respond to all counties.
Four Single Engine Air
Tanker (SEAT) planes are
available to assist via aerial
wildfire suppression by
dropping water from the air.
The AFC works in full partnership
with the Arkansas
Department of Emergency
Management and the Arkansas
Governor’s Office
to respond to emergencies
quickly.
Report wildfires to the
AFC Dispatch Center at:
1-800-468-8834.
What can hunters, hikers,
and campers do to help with
wildfire safety?
· Call the AFC Dispatch
Center to report wildfires
at 1-800-468-8834. Report
emergencies by calling 911.
· Make sure you stay
updated on current Burn
Bans (51). See map of all
Burn Bans reported to AFC
Dispatch at arkfireinfo.org
and/or contact your local
Sherriff’s Office or County
Judge’s Office. Remember,
only County Judges declare
official county Burn Bans in
Arkansas.
· During conditions of low
humidity, gusty wind, and
dry vegetation – which are
currently present – avoid
outdoor burning of any kind.
· Avoid building campfires
of any kind until conditions
change, across Arkansas.
·While hunting, make sure
that any sparks caused by
firing a muzzleloader are
quickly stomped out or put
out with water. Vegetation
is dry; sparks may create
flames quickly.
· Transporting equipment
to deer camp? Make sure you
are not dragging chains as
you drive. Chains can create
sparks, which transfer
flames to multiple locations
at once. Keep a watchful eye
in your rear view mirrors.
·Avoid throwing cigarettes
from vehicles; or from
porches or tents at deer
camps, as grass and vegetation
on the forest floor is
very dry.
·Be watchful of machinery
and equipment causing
sparks and igniting the grass
or pastureland.
·If undertaking an agricultural
burn: stay with the
burn until it is completed;
keep water resources nearby;
burn only in low wind.
Stay updated on Wildfire
Danger and Burn Bans
reported to AFC Dispatch
at www.arkfireinfo.org and/
or facebook.com/Arkansas-
ForestryCommission and @
ARForestryComm.
Find contact information
for your local AFC Crew by
visiting forestry.arkansas.
gov and choosing the “Contact
Us” icon in the upper
right of the homepage.
The mission of the Arkansas
Forestry Commission
is to protect Arkansas’s
forests, and those who enjoy
them, from wildland fire
and natural hazards while
promoting rural and urban
forest health, stewardship,
development, and conservation
for all generations of
Arkansans.
