UPDATE 12:55 PM: Arkansas Forestry Commission Spokesperson Amy Lyman tells Deltaplex News that the wildfire near Ramick Road was contained at approximately 2:30 a.m., and burned approximately 175 acres.
No homes or other structures were damaged by the fire.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Highway 15 South Fire Department worked in conjunction with several other local fire departments and the Arkansas Forestry Commission to battle a wildfire that started near 5295 Highway 54 Monday afternoon.
That fire pushed its way towards Kilcrease Road where authorities evacuated residents as the fire approached a residential area.
Arkansas Forestry Commission Spokesperson Amy Lyman spoke with Deltaplex News about the fire, saying crews were able to get it contained overnight after approximately 500 acres were burned.
Lyman told Deltaplex News that no homes or other structures were lost due to the fire, and no personnel or citizens were injured during the fire.
Crews also battled a blaze in the Watson Chapel Fire Department district in the area of the Pinewood community to the Ramick Road area. Lyman said Forestry personnel also assisted with that fire, and it is also contained. She was not aware of how many acres were burned during that fire, but will provide an update later in the day.
Lyman also said that crew reinforcements are coming into the fire scenes in order to relieve last night’s crews so they can keep an eye out to make sure no additional fires spark up.
Sources have also informed Deltaplex News that both fires are believed to have been started by citizens who were burning items in their yards. Jefferson County is under a burn ban in addition to a Red Flag warning due to high wind conditions.
Lyman told Deltaplex News that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will handle the investigations into the causes of the fire.
