Conditions in Arkansas are still dangerously dry despite rainfall over the weekend.
Much of the western half of the state is under threat of wildfires with 58 of the state’s 75 counties still under active burn bans as of Monday. That number is down from a high of 70 late last week.
“Overall the rainfall that was received is not a long-term fix for the drought conditions," said Adriane Barnes, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. "While Arkansas’s landowners may have a short window where burning outdoors might be safer, in the long-term it is still going to be a dangerous situation for any large-scale burn. Landowners need to continue to use caution.”
According to the department, the burning of trash or leaves has been the top reason for the majority of recent wildfires in Arkansas. Burn ban restrictions vary by county and are determined by county judges.
Meteorologist Jeff Hood with the National Weather Service said rain is in the forecast for central Arkansas later in the week, which could finally alleviate the dry conditions.
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