Two Jefferson County forest fires caused by unlawful burning in late October prompted Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. and his Deputies to begin issuing citations to citizens who chose to burn debris, leaves, and other objects during the burn ban.
Woods spoke with Deltaplex News this week, saying that his department issued nearly 20 citations for unlawful burning in the final days before the burn ban was lifted.
Woods said that two of those citations were issued to the homeowners that started fires which led to around 500 acres burning in Jefferson County. Woods also stated that the landowners who saw their property damaged by the fires could pursue civil liability cases against those two homeowners.
According to Arkansas State Law, Unlawful burning is a Class A misdemeanor: punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or a jail sentence of not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment. Woods told Deltaplex News that the homeowners cited for starting the two forest fires were cited under this law.
