Update: Ola Fire now 100% Contained
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: July 26, 2012
Photo above from Highway 10 at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday
Update (July 26, 6:00 a.m.)
Officials say the fire is now 100% contained but is still burning. They say about 1,400 acres have burned so far.
Now, firefighters are concerned with the east side of the affected area as winds later today could pick up burning embers from the affected area and spread the fire again.
Emergency workers and firefighters will remain in the area to respond to any outbreaks.
Update (July 25, 8:55 p.m)
Officials say the fire is now approximately 50% contained. It has burned 350 to 400 acres.
The fire is being held off at Hwy 10 and firefighters are currently pushing it back.
The area between State Highway 10 and Old Highway 10 are still unsafe and under mandatory evacuation.
The city of Ola is under voluntary evacuation.
Update (4:00 p.m.):Update (July 26, 6:00 a.m.)
Officials say the fire is now 100% contained but is still burning. They say about 1,400 acres have burned so far.
Now, firefighters are concerned with the east side of the affected area as winds later today could pick up burning embers from the affected area and spread the fire again.
Emergency workers and firefighters will remain in the area to respond to any outbreaks.
Authorities say the mandatory evacuation has also been lifted.
Update (July 25, 8:55 p.m)
Officials say the fire is now approximately 50% contained. It has burned 350 to 400 acres.
The fire is being held off at Hwy 10 and firefighters are currently pushing it back.
The area between State Highway 10 and Old Highway 10 are still unsafe and under mandatory evacuation.
The city of Ola is under voluntary evacuation.
Update (6:55 p.m.)
Fire crews tell KARK's Marci Manley thery are protecting several structures that the fire is getting close to.
Update (6:15 p.m.)
Smoke continues to push over Highway 10 as firefighters try to protect homes from the fast-moving flames.
As of 6:15 p.m., only a barn had burned.
Crew says the fire has now expanded to roughly 300 acres.
Update (5:15 p.m.)
KARK 4 Reporter Marci Manley reports from Highway 10 that the fire has crossed the last line of defense and is burning towards the highway now.
What had been a voluntary evacuation is now mandatory for the town of Ola and its outskirts.
Officials tell her they expect the fire to cross the highway and spread from what's been a 110 to 110 acre fire into a larger wildfire.
People are lining the highway watching the fire burn its way across forest land.
The wind that has been picking up is another factor that's making it difficult to knock down.
Several firefighting departments and state and local agencies are on the scene.
Fire crews tell KARK's Marci Manley thery are protecting several structures that the fire is getting close to.
Update (6:15 p.m.)
Smoke continues to push over Highway 10 as firefighters try to protect homes from the fast-moving flames.
As of 6:15 p.m., only a barn had burned.
Crew says the fire has now expanded to roughly 300 acres.
Update (5:15 p.m.)
KARK 4 Reporter Marci Manley reports from Highway 10 that the fire has crossed the last line of defense and is burning towards the highway now.
What had been a voluntary evacuation is now mandatory for the town of Ola and its outskirts.
Officials tell her they expect the fire to cross the highway and spread from what's been a 110 to 110 acre fire into a larger wildfire.
People are lining the highway watching the fire burn its way across forest land.
The wind that has been picking up is another factor that's making it difficult to knock down.
Several firefighting departments and state and local agencies are on the scene.
Update (5:00 p.m.)
KARK 4 Reporter Marci Manley reports from Highway 10 southwest of Ola that the fire looked to be picking up speed just minutes before five o'clock.
She says the fire is sending huge billows of black smoke up into the sky about a mile-and-a-half outside of Ola.
Marci reports that she's seen two air tankers dropping water on the blaze.
KARK 4 Reporter Marci Manley reports from Highway 10 southwest of Ola that the fire looked to be picking up speed just minutes before five o'clock.
She says the fire is sending huge billows of black smoke up into the sky about a mile-and-a-half outside of Ola.
Marci reports that she's seen two air tankers dropping water on the blaze.
Update (4:05 p.m.):
Yell County Office of Emergency Management reports the Ola fire is about 50-percent contained.
Yell County Office of Emergency Management reports the Ola fire is about 50-percent contained.
The Yell County Sheriff's Office says there is a warehouse that stores fireworks in the Ola area on Highway 10.
Sheriff's officials say it is on the opposite side of where the fireline is and they don't expect it to be threatened.
Original story (July 25, 2:30 p.m.)
A wildfire on Ola Mountain in Yell County is prompting an evacuation of the entire town of Ola and the areas around Highway 10 between Ola and Birta due to a large fire off State Highway 7 south of Ola.
An estimated 1,000 people live in the area.
A temporary shelter is set up at the Two Rivers High School gym, just east of Plainview. In a phone call to the school, KARK 4 was told only about eight people had shown up there by 3:15.
The voluntary evacuations along Highway 10 east to the Perry County line started around 2:30.
Earlier this afternoon, the Yell County Sheriff's Office said a wildfire had been burning on Ola Mountain since 10:30 this morning that was almost contained by 12:45.
At that time, the YCSO said the fire had been started by mowers in the area.
Several agencies are on standby if the fire grows larger, including: The U. S. Forest Service, the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas State Police, Yell County Sheriff's Office, Yell County Emergency Medical Services and Office of Emergency Management, the Ola Fire Department, the Danville Fire Dept., Plainview Fire Dept. and other area jurisdictions.
The blaze has jumped two fire lines, officials say.
The Red Cross is also setting up to take in the overflow. If people want to leave Ola and go to a family member's home, officials are encouraging that.
Officials are not yet evacuating nursing homes or medical facilities.
Officials say the fire has gotten too far out of control to know exactly how big it is but at first thought it was at least 150 acres. Shortly after, around 3:45. Sheila Doughty with the Arkansas Forestry Commission confirmed the estimated area between 100 and 110 acres.
No structures have been burned and no injuries so far.
Photos above submitted by KARK 4 viewers
Photo above courtesy: Yell County Sheriff's Office
Comments
Wild Fires create there own wind.
As the heat rises fresh cool air replaces what is used up.
The hotter the heat the stronger the indraft.
Richard V.
July 25, 2012 at 5:42 pm
