Craighead County officials lifted the countywide burn ban Friday morning following soaking rains that fell across parts of northeast Arkansas. County Judge Marvin Day formally announced the decision, but experts warn that fire risks persist.
According to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, while Craighead County has eased restrictions, the entire state remains under a high fire risk. More than half of Arkansas counties are still under active burn bans, including neighboring Poinsett County.
Jonesboro Fire Chief Martin Hamrick explained that despite the rainfall, vegetation in the region remains dry and vulnerable to ignition.
“The grass and everything is still all dead and dried out,” Hamrick noted. “Even this rain will help, but there’s still going to be a danger of wildfires being able to start and spread.”
Hamrick added that sustained rainfall over several days or weeks would be necessary to significantly lower the fire risk.
In addition to fire concerns, Hamrick urged drivers to exercise caution on wet roads, emphasizing the particular hazards of the current conditions.
“When it’s been so dry, all those oils and stuff that’s on the pavement start to release, and it makes it pretty slick,” he explained. “If you hit your brakes hard, you will slide a lot easier right now than you normally would on dry pavement.”
Residents in Craighead County are encouraged to remain mindful of fire risk and road conditions despite the recent change in restrictions.