UPDATE: Recently, we have heard from several county judges informing us of burn bans in their area. So this week is a good time to remind you about the dangers of wildfires in Arkansas and what the 89th General Assembly did to help protect our homes and property from the destruction wildfires can cause. Last year there were 1,018 fires across more than 16,000 acres. So far, this year there have been 391 fires spreading across more than 5,000 acres. While in comparison the trend appears to be good news, there is a concern that conditions could worsen. We had much more rain in April and May than we did in 2012. The Arkansas Forestry Commission uses a scale to determine the threat of wildfires across the state. It is rated on a scale from 0-800 with the greatest amount of danger at 800. In the summer of 2012, most every monitoring station in the state was measuring at least 700. Currently, monitors are showing between 550-650. So as you can see, without a good rain in the near future the risk for wildfires could increase significantly. The damage that can be caused by wildfires prompted the 89th General Assembly to take action. During the recent session, we passed a 5 cent increase on the timber tax. The timber tax works similar to property taxes you may pay on your home. Timber owners currently are assessed and pay 15 cents per acre. Act 1391 increased that tax to 20 cents per acre. The increase will not be collected until next year. It is the first raise in timber tax since 1993. In a year when this General Assembly saw fit to pass over $100 million in tax cuts, one may wonder why a tax increase was needed in this particular area. The answer is simple. Our Forestry Commission needs the additional $700 thousand dollars a year to upgrade equipment and if necessary increase staff in years to come to help keep our state protected. The Forestry Commission has 195 firefighting positions to cover over 30 million acres. The dozers and trucks needed to help fight wildfires can cost up to $250,000 a piece. The Commission has over 100 dozer units which includes the trucks and trailers needed to haul the equipment. The fleet is beginning to age and without additional funds it would be nearly impossible to replace. We hope Arkansas does not face the challenges it did last year, but that could depend on you. Prevention is key. More than four out of every five wildfires in the U.S. are caused by people. Man-made causes such as arson or carelessness by individuals are the biggest contributors. Such carelessness includes smoking in forested areas or improperly extinguishing campfires. In dry conditions, any spark can cause a fire. Be mindful that sparks from lawn mowers and equipment can be extremely dangerous right now. It is also recommended to park your cars in areas where grass or other vegetation does not come in contact with your exhaust system. If you want to check conditions or burn bans in your area visit forestry.arkansas.gov.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:20:29 +0000