Altus Rural Fire Department

09/06/2026

Not even a measurable amount of rain was received.

09/05/2026

All 75 Arkansas counties are now under high wildfire risk, and more than 65 counties have active burn bans. Persistent drought and extremely dry vegetation mean fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control. As we head into the holiday weekend, we’re asking all Arkansans to stay alert and take steps to reduce wildfire ignition.

Please take these precautions:

- Avoid all outdoor burning. This includes campfires, trash burning, grilling with open flames, and any prescribed or controlled burns.
- Never leave any outdoor flame unattended.
- Use caution when driving or operating equipment near dry vegetation. Avoid driving over tall or dry grass, ensure trailer chains aren’t dragging, and do not drive on flat tires.
- Properly extinguish and dispose of cigarettes—never discard them outdoors.
- Report smoke or fire immediately by calling 1‑800‑468‑8834.

Stay informed by monitoring the Department’s county‑by‑county fire map, reviewing active incidents on the wildfire dashboard, and following our updates on social media.

09/02/2026

ARFD was dispatched to East Church Street at 6:14 PM for a 160,000 volt electric transmission line sparking that had caught a hay field on fire. ARFD arrived on scene and found approximately 3 acres and 11 hay bales that were on fire. Once the fire was contained, ARFD stood by until OG&E arrived to get the power line shut off.

Once the scene was safe enough to continue fire operations, the remaining fire and hay bales were rolled out, extinguished, and the area around wet down to prevent any spread from a possible rekindle.

ARFD was on scene for approximately 5 1/2 hours. There will be lingering smoke in the area for several hours or more.

Video in comments. All pictures and videos were taken from a safe distance. Any close pictures or videos were obtained using the zoom feature on the camera. All electric lines should be treated with caution, but especially these that carry such devastating amounts of electricity.

08/31/2026

Fire Danger has been upgraded to HIGH for Franklin County. We have had no impactful rainfall in several weeks. Small fires become big fires very easily in these condition’s.

The Burn Ban for Franklin County is still in effect.

Please see attached.

08/28/2026

The newest drought report shows things are getting bad. No surprise, right? The red is "extreme" drought....This is the official term, though I think the term "extreme" gets used waaaaay too often to describe weather. In this case, perhaps it's warranted. We need rain.

08/22/2026

Across Arkansas, wildland firefighters, foresters, rangers, and volunteer departments are facing more fires and more dangerous conditions. When a wildfire starts, they move toward heat, smoke, and unpredictable terrain to protect our forests, our homes, and our communities. They do this knowing the risks, and they do it day after day.

We can support them by following burn bans, staying weather aware, and being fire smart in our daily activities. Give crews and equipment the room they need to work and take time to thank the people who serve on the line and in our communities.

Our firefighters stand ready when Arkansas needs them. Let’s do our part to help keep them safe.

08/21/2026

HUGE WILDFIRE - this is from tonight.

Unfortunately we’re observing a massive wildfire tonight in Union County.

This has sparked a major effort and response from local and state authorities to battle the fire and it’s still present as of 9:57 PM.

I’m told that efforts to get the fire contained are still ongoing.

There are also evacuations in the area.

Say a prayer for these people and the first responders involved, it has been a long evening.

Photo sent to me via Katie Meade.

08/18/2026

A cooling station for those that are still without power from yesterday's storm will open today at 10:30 AM in Ozark at the Gardner Family Life Center located at 104 South 5th Street. On behalf of the First United Methodist Church, we ask that everyone that wished to utilize the center to cooperate with any rules that they may have for their building which they have so graciously allowed to be used.

The cooling station will be manned by volunteers from the American Red Cross.

The Lions Club International will also be on site with their disaster relief supplies trailer. They will have tarps available for those with roof damage, along with the special nails that have the plastic cap for securing tarps, in addition to comfort supplies.

As of 8:45 AM there are 1,002 residences without power in Franklin County. (864 on Arkansas Valley Electric Coop, and 138 on Oklahoma Gas & Electric).

08/17/2026