LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As Arkansas enters the second week of this hot, dry summer, fire officials encourage everyone to pay close attention to their surroundings, especially when using fireworks.
Grass and brush fire season is underway, keeping local fire departments busy.
Shinall Mountain is typically pretty green, but a section looks much different after a fire Thursday afternoon.
The West Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department was one of a few to respond and contain it.
"Not sure what caused that, probably fireworks that turned into about a two, three, maybe a little bit larger, acre fire that spread very quickly on a rough hillside and ran between the grassy and the wooded area," West Pulaski Fire Deputy Chief Jason Rogers said. "We had requested some additional help to tackle it quickly."
Although Pulaski County hasn't issued a burn ban, Rogers said a little heat spark can still cause significant problems.
"When we get low rain, low humidity and high temps, the fires can still spread just as quickly," Rogers said. "The burn ban is really the worst-case scenario. The fires still are difficult to manage quickly when they occur."
On Thursday, the department responded to two grass fires: one on Shinall Mountain near Two Towers Road and the other by Country Farm Road.
"It's almost a daily occurrence to have some kind of fire," Rogers said. "Usually someone burning leaves. Someone might have a spark from a mower. It could be anything."
Unfortunately, grass fires are pretty common this time of year, so Rogers and other volunteers are preparing to respond to several more this summer.
"We may be facing a lot of grass fires if the high temps remain," Rogers said. "We really have to hope for rain."
While we wait for rain, he encourages everyone to be extra careful and mindful during these dry conditions.
"We know that with the holiday, people will still be shooting fireworks through the remainder of the weekend," Rogers said. "We just want everyone to be safe with whatever fireworks they use."
If you hold off on shooting fireworks this weekend and save them for later, Rogers suggested keeping them in a dry container to make them last.