Dry weather conditions could lead to wildfires

Even though it is the middle of wildfire season, Garland County is still enjoying the benefits of a moisture-saturated spring and summer, but local officials urged caution Friday due to continued dry conditions.

Garland County’s wildfire season typically runs from August through October. The city of Hot Springs received 24.07 inches of rain from January through July and 3.3 inches in the first 22 days of August, according to the National Weather Service.

Since Aug. 22, though, only eight-tenths of an inch of rain has fallen on the county. As of Friday, the county’s KBDI index, which measures moisture conditions, read 657. A KBDI index above 500 is indicative of drought conditions, according to forecaster Joe Goud-

sward of the National Weather Service in North Little Rock.

Adriane Barnes, director of communications for the Arkansas Agriculture Department, said Garland County is “greener” and less dry than it was this time last year, but noted it was nearing a time when wildfires would become more common.

“Green spring and summer grasses are going to start dying away as a natural process for fall. Leaves are gonna start falling from the trees. All of those things have the fuels and are probably flammable,” Barnes said.

“We’ve had a good year really, overall, but we are down right now, and that’s the reason people need to be cautious,” County Judge Rick Davis said. “It’s been extremely dry, and it’s getting to a stage where we’re gonna start paying attention to it. We will be monitoring, talking to the Arkansas Forestry Commission, as well as the volunteer fire departments.”

“We’re starting to get a lot more brush fires, grass fires,” 70 West Fire Chief Autumn Carlisle said Friday. “A lot of the neighboring departments are starting to respond on many, as well.”

Davis said the county’s KBDI index, along with consultation with the fire departments in the county, would be taken into consideration before he issues a burn ban.

Carlisle said she and other volunteer firefighters are not necessarily in favor of burn bans as long as outdoor burning is done well. She noted potential mistakes made by outdoor burners including leaving fires unattended, winterizing outdoor water sources too soon and not keeping track of daily humidity levels.

“It’s a good idea to call your local fire departments,” she said. “We often monitor humidity, wind conditions, how dry it’s been for how long, and can advise people. And we always tell people, ‘Make sure you’ve got a water source handy, and make sure you stay with it the entire time it’s burning, and make sure you put it out when you’re done.’”

Davis said he and other county officials will consider putting a burn ban in place if there is no precipitation “in the next two or three weeks.” He said everyone in Garland County should act responsibly in light of present conditions.

“I’d like to tell people to be cautious, and to communicate well with the fire departments in their jurisdiction,” Davis said. “We’ll keep monitoring the situation.”