Wet Weather Brings Arkansas Fire Crews Relief
By: Josh Berry
Updated: July 9, 2012
Out of Arkansas' 75 counties, 72 are still dealing with intense drought.
Monday's (7/8) afternoon's rain however, was enough to create a break for fire officials in the state.
Consider this: Sunday, despite a bit of rain, there were at least 11 wildfires across the state. Monday however, the Arkansas Forestry Commission only reported 3. They were all credited to lasting moisture and higher humidity.
"Any kind of precipitation we can get is just astronomical for what we can do," said Hot Spring County Forester, Jon Goss.
Weeks without significant rainfall has left the Forestry Commission scrambling.
"We've just been working non-stop it seems like."
That changed Monday.
While a couple days of rain may not change the immediate fire danger, it gives departments an immediate, much needed, break.
"For one thing it gives the crew time to rest," Goss said.
The Commission's Dispatch Center said it's been hectic for weeks with phone's ringing off the hook all day long. For hours at a time Monday though, they didn't receive a single call.
The Commission isn't alone. Small local volunteers have scraped along this summer and a day of rest is a nice change of pace.
"It gives everybody a little bit of down time, time to rest," claimed DeGray Volunteer Fire Department Chief, James Tate.
They've built up a list of things to do like maintenance on their equipment, that they wouldn't otherwise had time to complete.
" We had to make some repairs, clean hoses, put hoses back on trucks, small fuel leaks on one," Tate said. "We had to work on it for a little bit. "
They even had time to teach some of the newer guys the ins and outs of the trucks.
Most importantly though, the break gives them time to work on one of the most crucial parts of their truck, the water pump.
All the work done Monday though, only prepares them to get right back on the next fire.
Tate said, "Get everything ready to go again."
"[The rain] just gives us a time to regroup while we can before it starts getting bad again," Goss added.
Monday's (7/8) afternoon's rain however, was enough to create a break for fire officials in the state.
Consider this: Sunday, despite a bit of rain, there were at least 11 wildfires across the state. Monday however, the Arkansas Forestry Commission only reported 3. They were all credited to lasting moisture and higher humidity.
"Any kind of precipitation we can get is just astronomical for what we can do," said Hot Spring County Forester, Jon Goss.
Weeks without significant rainfall has left the Forestry Commission scrambling.
"We've just been working non-stop it seems like."
That changed Monday.
While a couple days of rain may not change the immediate fire danger, it gives departments an immediate, much needed, break.
"For one thing it gives the crew time to rest," Goss said.
The Commission's Dispatch Center said it's been hectic for weeks with phone's ringing off the hook all day long. For hours at a time Monday though, they didn't receive a single call.
The Commission isn't alone. Small local volunteers have scraped along this summer and a day of rest is a nice change of pace.
"It gives everybody a little bit of down time, time to rest," claimed DeGray Volunteer Fire Department Chief, James Tate.
They've built up a list of things to do like maintenance on their equipment, that they wouldn't otherwise had time to complete.
" We had to make some repairs, clean hoses, put hoses back on trucks, small fuel leaks on one," Tate said. "We had to work on it for a little bit. "
They even had time to teach some of the newer guys the ins and outs of the trucks.
Most importantly though, the break gives them time to work on one of the most crucial parts of their truck, the water pump.
All the work done Monday though, only prepares them to get right back on the next fire.
Tate said, "Get everything ready to go again."
"[The rain] just gives us a time to regroup while we can before it starts getting bad again," Goss added.
