With the app, producers can select the area they plan to burn on a map and the application will generate real-time weather data, letting them know if current conditions align with the state’s Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines. Under these voluntary guidelines, producers and landowners report prescribed burns to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Dispatch Center. The FireSMART app also streamlines this process, making the app a one-stop shop for reporting and information.
In row crop production, prescribed fire is used as part of crop management plans to remove stubble following the harvest of rice, soybeans, corn, and cotton. Prescribed burning is an efficient and economical control method for preparing fields for the next growing season and eliminating pests and diseases. Burning crop residue also allows for no-till or reduced-till planting during the next growing season.
Prescribed burning provides many benefits to forest landowners including vegetation control, ecosystem restoration, and wildlife habitat improvement. Additionally, prescribed fire makes landscapes more resistant to wildfires by removing flammable debris and vegetation. It is one of the best tools for improving wildfire safety.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment announced the launch of the Arkansas FireSMART mobile application in 2022. The app, created with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, offers row crop producers and forest landowners a simple, easy way to check conditions and report prescribed burns. Producers can also call the toll-free hotline to report burning: 1-800-830-8015.
