Sunday Forest Fire Still Burning in Hempstead County
By: Brian Kushida, KTAL-Texarkana, Shreveport
Updated: August 3, 2011
Firefighters in southwest Arkansas are trying to keep a forest fire from spreading.
In triple-digit temperatures, firefighters from several southwest Arkansas communities are trying to keep a large, rural forest fire contained.
Southeast Volunteer Fire Chief Jerome Underwood says flames have already consumed about 150 acres.
The fire has been complicated by winds, which have caused the flames to jump man-made boundary lines dozens of times.
While under control, the flames are expected to burn through the rest of this week. In the mean time, forestry officials are expected to continue watching for fires to start up again.
"It's a matter of just time and hoping that the wind doesn't pick back up, and blow it out of our boundaries," Underwood said.
Residents up the road in Hope are hoping for the best, but can't help but think about the possibilities.
"It could be like it is out west, where it just keeps burning things up," said Hope resident Kenny Rowe.
No injuries have been reported.
No homes are believed to be threatened by the fire.
In triple-digit temperatures, firefighters from several southwest Arkansas communities are trying to keep a large, rural forest fire contained.
Southeast Volunteer Fire Chief Jerome Underwood says flames have already consumed about 150 acres.
The fire has been complicated by winds, which have caused the flames to jump man-made boundary lines dozens of times.
While under control, the flames are expected to burn through the rest of this week. In the mean time, forestry officials are expected to continue watching for fires to start up again.
"It's a matter of just time and hoping that the wind doesn't pick back up, and blow it out of our boundaries," Underwood said.
Residents up the road in Hope are hoping for the best, but can't help but think about the possibilities.
"It could be like it is out west, where it just keeps burning things up," said Hope resident Kenny Rowe.
No injuries have been reported.
No homes are believed to be threatened by the fire.
