LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Some Arkansans may be wondering why they're seeing smokey skies in some areas. According to officials, the smoke is a result of a series of prescribed burns taking place throughout the region.
Yesterday, February 19, the US Forest Service performed a series of burns across all national forests in Arkansas. To view the progress of these burns or any upcoming ones, please click here.
Today, February 20, a series of controlled burns will take place in the following counties:
- Ashley
- Benton
- Boone
- Calhoun
- Carroll
- Clark
- Cleburne
- Conway
- Faulkner
- Fulton
- Grant
- Hempstead
- Independence
- Izard
- Jefferson
- Johnson
- Madison
- Marion
- Miller
- Montgomery
- Newton
- Pike
- Polk
- Pope
- Prairie
- Pulaski
- Randolph
- Saline
- Scott
- Searcy
- Sebastian
- Sevier
- Sharp
- Stone
- Van Buren
- White
- Yell
These burns serve many environmental benefits, from reducing wildfire risks by removing fuel levels and loading from the forest floor to acting as timber stands and wildlife habitat improvements.
Each controlled burn is conducted by a specially trained and equipped fire management crew, who are prepared with safety plans, smoke management plans, and how to control the fire intensity levels.
Officials from Pine Bluff Arsenal have also advised the local community not to be alarmed by large plumes of smoke coming from the area until the end of March as the Arkansas Forestry Division conducts several controlled burns.
To view a map or list of active burns taking place across the state, visit the Arkansas Forestry Commission's website.