BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — The Benton County Fire Marshal issued a 24-hour burn ban on Monday amid elevated wildfire danger across the state.
On Feb. 26, county officials announced that there was a ban on outdoor, open burning across Benton County. That ban was extended on Tuesday morning for an additional 24 hours.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) has placed Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley under a moderate risk for wildfire potential. Parts of southern and eastern Arkansas have been placed in a high risk for wildfire risk.
Open burning is considered extremely dangerous when the weather includes warm temperatures combined with low humidity. While that type of weather does feel amazing, it's a combination that is a dream scenario for wildfires, according to 5NEWS Meteorologist Stephen Elmore.
One key takeaway to prevent wildfires is to overall just be smart when handling flames. Make sure cigarettes stay out of grassy areas and keep your cars out of tall dry grass. If you plan on camping during this warm weather, remember to completely soak your campfire so no embers can escape and cause a fire.
List of Arkansas counties under a burn ban:
- Carroll
- Washington
- Madison
- Sebastian
- Fulton
- Sharp
- Searcy
- Van Buren
- Faulkner
- White
- Independence
- Phillips
- Lincoln
- Dallas
- Hempstead
- Nevada
- Ouachita
- LaFayette
- Columbia
- Union
- Ashley
- Nevada
The good news is that currently no part of 5COUNTRY has a drought concern, and the only section of Arkansas that does is in the Delta. That concern from the drought monitor is very low.
For more information on what a wildfire risk is and what the science behind it is, click here to read Wildfire Danger in Arkansas | What is the science behind the risk?
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