A large fire broke out near Highway 60 in Aplin on Tuesday afternoon, prompting multiple fire-response agencies to rush to the scene as Arkansas grapples with worsening drought conditions statewide. No injuries or deaths had been reported.
The blaze was first discovered at 3:26 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, as reported by KATV. The station reported that multiple fire-response agencies were called in to assist with the fire. Separately, KARK attributed the information that the fire was near Highway 60 in Aplin to a post by the Bigelow Volunteer Fire Department; the cause of the fire remains unknown, per the station's reporting.
As of Tuesday night, the fire's size, containment status and whether any structures were threatened had not been established in available reporting. KATV said it would continue updating the story as more information becomes available.
Drought Conditions Setting the Stage Statewide
The fire comes as drought conditions continue to impact various parts of Arkansas this year, according to the same KATV report. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture confirmed that 25 counties were under extreme wildfire risk just last week, the station noted.
That assessment lines up with separate reporting from Talk Business & Politics, which found that at least 25 counties across Arkansas were in the extreme wildfire risk category, with more counties potentially being added during the week. The outlet reported that low humidity and dry vegetation combined with wind can ignite fires, citing the state agriculture department. The U.S. Drought Monitor, per the same report, found that all of Arkansas was experiencing at least moderate drought, with half the state classified as extreme or exceptional.
Burn Bans Cover Half the State
The scale of the risk has triggered emergency measures well beyond Aplin. A Red Flag Warning was issued for southern Arkansas, and burn bans were in effect in 50 counties statewide, according to the Stuttgart Daily Leader. That outlet reported that persistent drought, extremely dry vegetation and an incoming cold front were combining to let fires ignite easily and spread rapidly.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture had already suppressed 1,700 fires affecting 39,000 acres so far this year, the Stuttgart Daily Leader reported, and the agency maintains 175 wildland firefighters and 110 bulldozers to support wildfire response across the state. Residents can check the Arkansas state burn-ban map to see whether restrictions are active in their area.
Conditions aren't expected to ease soon in parts of the state. The National Weather Service said relief may not be on the way anytime soon in eastern Arkansas, where dry conditions and low humidity are expected to persist, according to The Wynne Progress.
State Has Already Called In Outside Help
Arkansas has declared a state of emergency in response to severe wildfires.
Wildfire task-force teams from Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina were deployed to Arkansas to support suppression efforts, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
No cause has been determined for the Aplin fire, and key details including its size and containment remain unconfirmed. Hoodline will continue to follow this developing story as fire officials release more information.
