Fire attack, Arkansas Forestry Air Tanker at Bandy Road/Neal Creek Fire today. Approx 1,500 acres has now grown to 2,000 acres. West Pulaski Fire, Crystal Fire, Collegeville Fire, Runyan Acres Fire, Arkansas Forestry Division, Pulaski OEM.
Tuesday Morning Update – An update on yesterday’s wooded fire. Crews from Arkansas Forestry continue to work with approximately 6 fire plows (dozers), firefighters on foot, and spotter aircraft to control the now 2,000 acre fire that is estimated to be 70% controlled.
Aircraft are planned in the area, so don’t be alarmed if you see more equipment working, water drops from Air Tankers or even helicopters bringing water to key locations to control the fire. National Guard Blackhawk helicopters are a possibility.
Smoke will continue for days, most likely, and will settle in roadways and neighborhoods when temps cool down in the evenings. There is no immediate threat to homes or neighborhoods at this time but we as you to be watchful in your area. Later day temps will increase and winds will grow also to carry smoke in several directions.
ALL OUTDOOR BURNING IS BANNED IN PULASKI COUNTY at this time per order from Judge Hyde. If you see fire, call 911 to report it.
Also, we hate to inconvenience anyone with an evacuation order like we and Pulaski County Emergency Management issued but want you to know we do so with an abundance of caution when conditions are warranted. We encourage you to make best of use of your time to gather important things (small things) and evacuate to a safe place. If you disregard the warning, that is dangerous and a bit foolish. Our mission is to protect lives and property, in that order. We hope you understand our mission AND will heed the warnings and recommendations if we have to make a call to evacuate an area that is potentially in a path of danger.
Stay Safe.
Monday Night Update -Bandys Ridge and Neal Creek evacuees are being allowed to return home. The evacuation order due to the nearby fire is being lifted as crews have made significant progress controlling the fire. We still want everyone to be aware of fire danger anywhere as a burn ban has been implemented for Pulaski County
Original: We have reports of a timber vehicle fire in the area north of Bandy Road and south of Garrison Road. We have units en route as does Arkansas Forestry. It is making a lot of smoke and may have spread to surrounding vegetation. We are assessing and Forestry plows are on the way. No reports of any injuries have been received nor of structures threatened.
