LITTLE ROCK, AR (News release) – Similar to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend last year, Arkansas experienced higher than normal wildfire activity from last Saturday-Monday due to dry vegetation, mild temperatures, gusty winds, and low humidity levels. AFC crews, in partnership with local fire departments, suppressed a total of 86 wildfires that burned 1,322 acres. Baxter, Faulkner, Izard, Marion, Pulaski, and Searcy Counties had wildfires that burned 100+ acres. Two homes were lost in Grant County.

Weekend fire activity was at its worst on Sunday (1/18):
  •  Saturday (1/17) 31 wildfires 111 acres
  • Sunday (1/18) 33 wildfires 869 acres
  •  Monday (1/19) 22 wildfires 342 acres
Why the sudden wildfire activity in January? Vegetation is still in a winter dormancy period, which means that it quickly dries with warm temperatures and wind. When humidity levels drop below 35%, wind gusts take place at over 10 mph, and temperatures warm conditions into the 50s and 60s, wildfire activity increases. These conditions present optimal opportunities for responsible burning (i.e. brush, trash, leaves, cropland and managed forest area) but also allow for fast-moving wildfires if burns are not carefully planned, monitored, maintained, and contained throughout their duration.

Today’s total wildfire activity, which includes two wildfires from late in the evening yesterday in Marion and Baxter County, came to include 273 across 5 wildfires. Because wind reached gusts of only 6 mph and humidity levels held in the range of 40%, activity was relatively low, compared to reports from the holiday weekend.

An active Burn Ban is in place for Carroll County and many east Arkansas counties have been placed under moderate fire danger. Visit www.arkfireinfo.org for Burn Ban and Wildfire Danger maps, updated by the AFC Dispatch Center around the clock.

Humidity levels are predicted to rise tomorrow; however, mild temperatures and gusty winds are possible as the weekend approaches. What precautions can Arkansas residents take to burn safely?
  •  Before you burn, check to make sure that the wind is not gusty. Gusts of over 5-10 mph can create a bad situation, quickly.
  • Always plan to stay with your burn site, throughout the duration of flame activity.
  •  Avoid burning near other vegetation or other structures.
  •  Always have a water hose nearby, in case of an emergency situation.
  • When you prepare a burn site, dig a dirt barrier around your intended burn area; even if you’re burning in a grassy area, the dirt ring creates a fire-resistant barrier so that flames stay where you intend for them to. Remember that grass burns very quickly when conditions are this dry.
  •  Call the AFC Dispatch Center for latest Fire Weather Conditions at 1-800-830-8015.
To report a wildfire, or inquire about wildfire danger, call the AFC Dispatch Center at 1-800-468-8834. To report an emergency, dial 911. Stay updated on Burn Bans and Wildfire Danger at www.arkfireinfo.org or facebook.com/ArkansasForestryCommission.

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.