Arkansas Pine Tree Rd Wildfire Grows To 2000+ Acres: New Wildfire Dashboard

With extremely dry conditions across Arkansas and burn bans in effect across nearly the entire state, officials are reminding residents to take wildfire danger seriously.

Pine Tree Road Fire Grows to 2,000+ Acres - 150 Evacuated

The Pine Tree Road Fire in Union County near El Dorado has grown to an estimated 2,000 acres since starting Thursday night.

About 10 bulldozers are working to contain the fire, with additional crews being brought in from other parts of Arkansas. Air tankers are also scheduled to assist firefighters.

Around 150 people have been evacuated to shelters in Lawson and El Dorado. Entergy has temporarily shut off power lines in the area to help crews work safely.

An aerial detection flight is planned to assess the fire, and officials say an updated containment estimate will be provided when available..

Arkansas Wildfire Dashboard Is Live

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has launched a new Active Wildfire Dashboard, giving the public a way to track wildfires across the state in near real time

The dashboard shows current and year-to-date wildfire totals, acreage affected and information about individual fires, including their locations and acreage. As of Friday morning, the dashboard was showing four active wildfires in Arkansas.

Click here and save the link.

Please Take Arkansas Wildfire Conditions Seriously

With conditions this dry, a small spark can quickly turn into a dangerous wildfire. Residents are reminded:

• Do not burn when a burn ban is in effect. Check local restrictions before burning anything.
• Never toss cigarette butts from a vehicle. A hot cigarette can ignite dry grass and brush.
• Do not park vehicles in tall, dry grass. Hot exhaust systems and catalytic converters can ignite vegetation.
• Be extremely careful with anything that could create a spark or open flame.
• Never approach or investigate an active wildfire. Smoke, heat, falling debris and changing winds can make the area extremely dangerous.
• Do not fly drones near wildfires. Drones can ground firefighting aircraft, slow emergency response and create dangerous airspace conditions.
• Follow instructions from fire officials and stay out of affected areas until authorities say they are safe.

Pine Tree Road Fire Grows to 2,000 Acres

The Pine Tree Road Fire in Union County near El Dorado has grown to an estimated 2,000 acres since starting Thursday night.

About 10 bulldozers are working to contain the fire, with additional crews being brought in from other parts of Arkansas. Air tankers are also scheduled to assist firefighters.

Around 150 people have been evacuated to shelters in Lawson and El Dorado. Entergy has temporarily shut off power lines in the area to help crews work safely.

An aerial detection flight is planned to assess the fire, and officials say an updated containment estimate will be provided when available.

If You See a Wildfire, Report It

Residents who spot a wildfire should report it immediately to Forestry Dispatch at 1-800-468-8834.

The new dashboard is a useful way to stay informed, but the best way to help firefighters is to prevent a fire from starting in the first place.

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When conditions are this dry, it doesn't take much. Please don't burn, don't throw cigarettes out the window, and don't give a wildfire a chance to start.

The El Dorado Times FB Page has some very recent photos. Link