An Arkansas burn ban is in place in 56 of the state’s 75 counties, and every part of the state is now in drought. The Arkansas Forestry Division’s map released today, Oct. 29, shows burn bans issued by county judges across most of the state, including 17 of the 21 counties in the ArkansasRadio.com listening area.
“The state continues to be in an unprecedented drought and is dangerously dry outside,” the Cabot Fire Department said in a public notice. The department is asking residents to avoid all outdoor burning, including any activity that could start a fire.
Counties in our region under a burn ban:
Arkansas, Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Lonoke, Monroe, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, White and Woodruff.
Baxter, Fulton, Izard and Searcy counties are not under a burn ban. All 4 are still rated at high wildfire danger.
High Wildfire Danger Across 69 Counties
The Forestry Division rates 69 Arkansas counties at high wildfire danger. That includes all 56 burn ban counties plus 13 more. The other 6 counties, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Washington in northwest Arkansas, are rated moderate. Every county in our region is in the high category.
The Forestry Division says that at high risk, fires ignite easily and spread quickly, and unattended brush fires and campfires are likely to escape. Fires may become serious if they are not attacked early.
All of Arkansas in Drought
The National Weather Service in Little Rock says all of Arkansas remains in some level of drought. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released today with data valid Oct. 27, shows extreme to exceptional drought, the 2 worst categories, covering a large part of the state. The worst conditions stretch across central, southern and eastern Arkansas. Parts of north-central Arkansas are in lighter categories, from abnormally dry to severe drought.
According to the Weather Service, most areas would need 10 to 20 inches of rain over a month to end the drought.
Rain Chances Return This Weekend
The Weather Service says no appreciable rainfall is expected through Friday. Temperatures are running 10 to 15 degrees above normal.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible late Friday into the weekend. Forecast models show between a quarter and a half inch of rain, with locally higher totals possible, though forecasters say confidence in the amounts is low. An active weather pattern next week will bring more rain chances, along with the possibility of strong to severe storms around the middle of the week.
That rain will help, but it falls far short of what is needed to break the drought. Burn bans stay in effect until each county judge lifts them.
How to Check Your County
Burn bans are issued by county judges. The Cabot Fire Department warns residents not to rely on Google or AI tools for current burn ban information. Check the Arkansas Forestry Division’s burn ban map or call your county judge’s office before burning.
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