Wildfire Risk High for Much of Arkansas

Firefighters faced over 100 fires since Thanksgiving

 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — State forestry officials say the risk for wildfires remains high throughout Arkansas as dry conditions persist.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission says firefighters have suppressed more than 100 wildfires since Thanksgiving. Those fires have burned a total of more than 1,800 acres (728 hectares) throughout the state, and officials say that number doesn’t include fires that have burned in state parks or national forests.

About half of Arkansas’ 75 counties are currently under burn bans. The National Weather Service in Little Rock says rainfall since Sept. 1 is between 5 inches and 10 inches below average, which is causing drought conditions in much of the state.

See also  Australia Sends Military to Help Wildfire Towns

Forecasters say some areas could see isolated thunderstorms Wednesday, but the wildfire risk will persist because of the dry conditions.

All contents © copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Newslettter

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay in the loop with our wildland newsletter.

Firefighters faced over 100 fires since Thanksgiving   LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — State forestry officials say the risk for wildfires remains high throughout Arkansas as dry conditions persist. The Arkansas Forestry Commission says firefighters have suppressed more than 100 wildfires since Thanksgiving. Those fires have burned a total of more than 1,800 acres (728 […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Californians Urged to Prepare Now for Fire Season

Californians Urged to Prepare Now for Fire Season

Darrell Smith - The Sacramento Bee SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Californians must fortify their homes against the ongoing threat of wildfire home by home, neighbor by neighbor and community by community. That’s the message state and local fire authorities are working to...

Wildfire in Sheridan County (ND) Injures Two Firefighters

Wildfire in Sheridan County (ND) Injures Two Firefighters

BRAD NYGAARD and BLAKE NICHOLSON The Bismarck Tribune, N.D. (TNS) Two firefighters were injured while helping battle a wildfire in Sheridan County over the weekend, and one of them was flown to a Twin Cities burn hospital. The blaze Saturday also destroyed a wildland...

Evacuations Ordered for McDowell County (NC) Wildfire

Evacuations Ordered for McDowell County (NC) Wildfire

The McDowell News, Marion, N.C. (TNS) Firefighters were on the scene of a wildfire in northern McDowell County Tuesday afternoon. Evacuations were ordered for the area around the fire. As of 4:15 p.m., emergency personnel were managing the fire on Armstrong Creek...