Much of Eastern Arkansas under burn ban as drought conditions continue

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Burn bans have now been put in place throughout a lot of FOX13′s viewing space in Easter Arkansas. In West Memphis, residents can not obtain burning permits in any respect.

Regardless of the bans, many counties haven’t restricted agricultural burns, which may very well be present in excessive numbers Wednesday.

Site visitors alongside I-40 slowed round midday as emergency crews labored to place out a number of fires alongside the interstate.

“It’s very simple to set that median on hearth. As of proper now the grass is beginning to die,” Dewayne Rose, director of Emergency Administration for West Memphis mentioned.

Rose mentioned dry climate mixed with heavy site visitors create prime situations for wildfires alongside highways.

“A variety of site visitors means you’ve bought lots of warmth on that roadway,” he mentioned. “So somebody having a flat tire or pulling a trailer with a sequence and making a spark, something like that may be a recipe for catastrophe.”

Exterior metropolis limits, although, huge agricultural burns have been ample. One farmer attributed that to the low winds.

In some elements of Mississippi County, which isn’t underneath a burn ban, darkish grey clouds of smoke may very well be seen for miles and large-scale open burns endured till late into the night.

“I simply need folks to be very aware of their environment,” Rose mentioned. “Simply be very cautious if you must have any sort of open flame.”

Rose mentioned the agricultural areas the place wildfires typically escape could cause points for responders not confronted in metropolis limits.

“Usually, these fires are situated in areas the place you don’t have a municipal water supply or something like that,” he mentioned.

That may imply extra items have to be used to shuttle water to the scene.

“It’s one thing we’re very used to as a result of we expertise these dry, low-humidity situations usually this time of 12 months,” Rose mentioned.

The Arkansas Division of Agriculture lists all the state as being within the “excessive danger” class for wildfires.

Rose mentioned the burn bans are usually not more likely to be lifted till rain comes, which isn’t within the forecast anytime quickly.

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