CALHOUN COUNTY, Ark. — The Arkansas National Guard has joined firefighting efforts to contain the Bunker Wildfire in Calhoun County, which has burned over 2,800 acres and threatened the Highland Industrial Park in Camden.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders ordered the mobilization of National Guard resources on Tuesday to support the Arkansas Forestry Division in battling the wildfire. The Guard is using two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to dump water and two bulldozers to reinforce containment lines. As of Wednesday, more than 48,000 gallons of water have been released over the affected area.
Due to the wildfire, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday. The latest wildfire updates, including mapping from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, continue to show the fire's extensive spread.
The Highland Industrial Park is home to sensitive operations, including defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Missile Systems, and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, as well as the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Arkansas Fire Training Academy.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders on Monday for residents north of U.S. Highway 278 between Calhoun Road 10 and Calhoun Road 95. Some shelters have been established at area facilities, including Victory Baptist Church, Hampton High School Library, and Hampton First Assembly of God Church. An initial evacuation of on-campus students from Southern Arkansas University Tech to Camden Fairview High School Gymnasium has since ended, with students returning to the campus.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture continues to stress the high wildfire risk across the state. Many counties remain under burn bans.
Officials urge residents in wildfire-prone areas to stay informed and be prepared for evacuation orders if conditions worsen.