LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As of Monday evening, there are nearly fifty counties across Arkansas that are under a burn ban.
While there hasn't been a burn ban issued for Pulaski County just yet, officials say they're ready if one is put in place. Though the idea of a burn ban seems easy to understand, some have been left wondering exactly what it means.
"A burn ban is basically what it says. You know, it bans any kind of outdoor burning," said Captain Brian Poe with the North Little Rock Fire Department Captain.
Burn bans are issued by county judges and are typically used to limit the number of wildlife dangers and restrict burning.
So for counties that allow residential open burning, once a burn ban is put in place all activities are prohibited.
As Arkansans look to understand what factors are put in place to determine whether or not a county should adhere to a burn ban, officials say it starts with the state's climate.
"What we're looking at is how dry the fuels are. Meaning like the vegetation and what's the relative humidity outside," said Travis Shelton, a Meteorologist with the Little Rock National Weather Service. "You know, [with] lower relative humidity there's less moisture in the air, so that's going to increase the fire weather risk."
Shelton explained how the National Weather Service will also look at wind speeds, as it could play a role in how fast a fire could spread.
Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Emergency Services Director Robert Murphy shared how it is important to take burn bans seriously as they lower the chances of starting a dangerous situation like house fires.
Here's a look at what officials say you should limit or completely prohibit while burn bans are put into place:
- Burning leaves
- Burning yard debris
- Grilling (Depending on what county you reside in, some counties classify grilling as an open fire outside).
- Land clearing
- Campfires
"Hand tools, like grinders or welders outside. Those are some things that can cause fires as well. Safety chains on trailers, make sure they're up off the ground and not dragging and if you've got a flat tire, stop and change it," he described.
While most burn bans in place are in the northwest part of Arkansas, Murphy said it is best to be mindful of the things we might not think about that could cause fires.
For a list of current burn bans across the stat, please click here.