The Arkansas National Guard announced Tuesday that two of its helicopters returned home from the ongoing Calhoun County wildfire, which was reportedly 90% contained.
Two Black Hawks will remain on duty, according to a news release by the Arkansas National Guard. Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas' adjutant general, said the Guard has worked with local first responders, federal agencies "in support of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management."
"I'm incredibly proud of the entire team that has worked tirelessly to contain this wildfire and protect the people and critical defense capabilities at Highland Industrial Park," said Bridges. "I'm especially thankful to my fellow adjutants general in Mississippi and Oklahoma for sending CH-47 Chinook crews to Arkansas. Their support added significant water-delivery capacity to the fight."
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced that the state has activated the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact, which "administered by the Southern Group of State Foresters, provides a longstanding mutual‑aid framework that allows participating states to efficiently mobilize personnel, equipment, and other resources when wildfire activity exceeds a state's capacity..
"Governor (Sarah Huckabee) Sanders has been actively engaged as we respond to high wildfire danger throughout the state including marshalling additional resources from multiple partners across the country to fight the large fire in Camden over the past week," Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said in a Tuesday news release. "Her quick and decisive action has been instrumental in supporting our crews on the ground and protecting critical industries and residential communities statewide."
The fire began Sept. 14 and prompted the evacuation of about 150 people. Its cause remains under investigation.
"We are still actively working (on the fire), but it's not near what was there this time last week," Robert Murphy, Arkansas Forestry Division spokesman, said Monday.
Arkansas State Forester Kyle Cunningham has said they will not be able to investigate the cause of the fire until it is out.
"We've had several fires in that part of the state over the last month. I will say the majority of the fires down there have been lightning strikes, but I don't want to say that's what this is," he said.
As of Tuesday, there are 67 counties under a burn ban, including Columbia, Ouachita and Union counties.
All counties in Arkansas are currently at a high risk for wildfires.
The high risk level means fires would ignite easily and spread quickly. Unattended brush fires and campfires are likely to escape. Fires may become serious if not attacked early.
"We're always hot and dry this time of year, but this year is exceptionally hot and dry. This is a heightened fire year. So we just really have to be cautious with anything we're doing," he said. "A lot of people don't realize that a brush hog, hay baler or even running a lawnmower in a yard that has a lot of brown grass in it can start a fire."
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture urges residents, landowners and local fire agencies to take the following steps as conditions worsen:
- Report wildfires immediately to the Department's Forestry Dispatch at 800-468-8834.
- Check for a county burn ban before conducting any outdoor burning.
- Use caution with all outdoor burning. The risk that a small fire escapes will continue to increase.
- Report prescribed fires prior to ignition through the Department's website or by calling 800-830-8015.
- Volunteer fire departments should prepare for increased call volume in the coming weeks.
- Forest landowners should plan for a brief prescribed burn season this fall.
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Information for this article was contributed by Deputy Managing Editor Brittany Williams.
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