The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response to a wildfire at Highland Industrial Park in Calhoun County. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the fire, located near Camden, has consumed more than 2,300 acres as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, based on data from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s wildfire map.
Highland Industrial Park houses several major facilities, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Missile Systems, and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The park also includes the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Arkansas Fire Training Academy.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order Monday for residents north of State Highway 278 between Calhoun Road 10 and Calhoun Road 95. Southern Arkansas University Tech took precautionary measures by evacuating its on-campus students to the Camden Fairview High School Gymnasium. Students have since returned to campus.
Temporary shelters have been set up at Victory Baptist Church in Hampton, the Hampton High School Library, and Hampton First Assembly of God Church for affected residents.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture continues to warn that the state remains at high risk for wildfires, with burn bans currently in effect in many counties.