LITTLE ROCK — The number of wildfires around Arkansas have decreased in recent days after an active summer in which more than 31,000 acres burned, officials said Wednesday.
Sheila Doughty, spokesman for the Arkansas Forestry Commission, said no wildfires have been reported since Friday, when crews battled one. That was a significant departure from the peak period in July and August, when crews battled up to 26 fires a day.
"The recent rains have really, really helped," Doughty said. "... They've been slowing way down for the last week or so."
Forestry crews so far this year have suppressed about 2,000 wildfires that burned 32,185 acres. Those totals already surpass the state's yearly average over the last decade of 1,662 fires consuming 26,224 acres.
Doughty said wildfires could flare up again if the state doesn't get adequate rain in the coming weeks. She urged citizens to "burn wisely" even if burn bans have been lifted in their area.
"We've already had significant drying out of leaves and leaves falling," she said. "So there's fuel on the ground still."