LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Forestry Commission on Monday lowered the wildfire danger level in the state from extreme to high because of recent rainfall, lower temperatures and increased humidity.
The commission said burning is still discouraged, especially when the humidity level is below 30 percent and winds are gusty.
“With high, it’s still dangerous, depending on where you are in the state and what’s going on, what time of day it is,” said commission spokeswoman Sheila Doughty. “With windy conditions, low humidity and dry fields you can still have fires from things like sparks from something you’re burning. With extreme, it’s just like, ‘Don’t burn, period. We don’t recommend it.’”
As of Monday afternoon, 18 of Arkansas’ 75 counties were not under burn bans, including Jefferson County which lifted its ban Monday.
Nearly every county was under a ban earlier this month.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“During 4th of July, all of them but two were (under bans), and the day after 4th of July I think all of them but one were,” Doughty said. “As we’ve gotten some rainfall over the course of the last two weeks, some of those have lifted.”
She warned that the improved conditions are not likely to last.
“It’s fixing to get hot and dry again because we haven’t even had August and September yet,” she said.
The commission also said people should not discard cigarettes from vehicles or park where grass or other vegetation can touch a vehicle’s exhaust system and should be mindful that sparks from lawn mowers and hay balers can start a wildfire.
The National Weather Service’s forecast calls for high temperatures to reach the upper 90s by Wednesday in much of the state and for slight chances of rain during the week.
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On the Net:
www.arkfireinfo.org/index.php?do:showBurnBans