Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fire Warning Issued; County Conditions Dry

High winds, accompanied by low humidity and little rainfall have caused conditions to be favorable for fires getting out of control.

"We've had our part," John Barham, Nevada County Judge, said of fires in the county. In fact, because of the conditions, a burn ban was placed in effect Feb. 14, and will remain in effect until further notice.

Nevada County is not the only county to have a burn ban in effect. In fact, 55 of Arkansas' 75 counties have issued burn bans.

Barham said those people who have been battling the blazes are in dire need of relief. He said the ban won't stop all the fires, because there have been some cases of arson reported.

Additionally, he said, people throwing cigarette butts out of their cars has been considered as a cause of fires in the county.

"We're hurting for some rain," Barham said.

William Mullins, with the Nevada County Rescue Unit, said the unit and fire departments in the area have been kept busy during February so far.

On Feb. 13 firemen fought a grass fire on Highway 24 near Interstate 30, and later that night were called out to put out a hay wagon which was burning.

Mullins said the hay wagon caught fire when a wheel rubbed against the fender, causing a spark, resulting in the blaze.

Area firefighters also responded to a house fire Feb. 10 in Hempstead County, near the county line, on Washington Road. Mullins said the NCRU, along with the DeAnn and Emmet volunteer fire departments responded and were able to save the house.

The home, owned by James Burke, was originally a two-story structure. However, the second floor had been removed.

Mullins said firemen were able to see the smoke but couldn't find the blaze until they put fans in the doorway to expel the smoke.

This fed oxygen to the fire and they saw a flame, which let them know where the fire was -- between what used to be the floor of the second story and the ceiling of the first floor.

Mostly, though, Mullins said area firefighters have been battling grass fires.

He agreed with Barham on the weather conditions being perfect for fires getting out of control.

A representative with the Arkansas Forestry Commission said Nevada County has been relatively lucky as compared to surrounding counties.

She said the commission has not been called on to fight a fire in Nevada County yet.

However, she continued, the fine for starting a fire begins at $150.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor urges all citizens to refrain from burning until the area gets some much needed rain.

He said one or two people have called him asking about burning, and were told not to.

"It's extremely dry," he said. "It's dangerous to set any kind of spark outside.

"We've been lucky considering the dryness."

Rainfall in the area was down 16 inches as 1995 came to an end. The drought continued at the start of 1996 as the region fell two more inches below normal in January.

February has seen no relief, even with the ice storm which hit earlier in the month.

So, until there has been substantial rain, officials are urging all residents of the city and county to avoid burning at all costs.