Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rash Of Fires Start Year; Several Groups Stay Busy

Gurdon firefighters were busy as 1996 dawned in Clark County.

During the first 45 days of the year, a total of 21 fires were reported.

The worst to occur was on Feb. 13, when an area resident lost control of a rubbish fire which threatened several homes and businesses, burning from Airport Road to Sticky Road and out to Highway 67 and West Miller Street.

This blaze required the efforts of firefighters from the Gurdon Fire Department, Curtis VFD, International Paper Co. and the Arkansas Forestry Service, along with individuals who pitched in and fought the fire.

The flames jumped a creek and Highway 182 (Sticky Road) at its height.

Elsewhere in the region, Clark County Judge Grady Runyan said on Feb. 12 a fire burned more than 200 acres in the Richwood area.

This blaze also required several volunteer departments, IP and the Forest Service to quell the flames.

One of the fire plows wound up being surrounded by flames and caught fire. County equipment was utilized to go in and extinguish the plow's blaze.

Feb. 13 was a continuation of the prior day as two fires were reported in the Manchester area with a third near Gurdon.

Low humidity and high winds were blamed for the increased incidents of fires in the county. Both Clark County and Gurdon issued burn bans until the weather conditions changed.

In addition, a fire threatened the Whelen Springs area, as more than 400 acres burned, including 100 acres in a pine tree plantation.

Again, it appeared as though someone burning brush lost control of their fire.