As dry conditions persist across the Southern Plains, officials in Arkansas and Oklahoma have escalated burn bans to combat the heightened risk of wildfires.
With no significant rainfall in the forecast and drought conditions worsening, local authorities are urging residents to exercise extreme caution as the region braces for a challenging fire season.
In Arkansas, county judges have imposed burn bans across a majority of the state’s 75 counties, with officials reporting that 61 are currently under restrictions as of Monday afternoon.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division has classified the entire state as being at high wildfire danger, a designation driven by low humidity, dry vegetation, and gusty winds.
“We’re seeing conditions that could turn a small spark into a major disaster,” said Joe Fox, Arkansas State Forester. “Until we get substantial rain, these bans are critical to protecting lives and property.”
In Northwest Arkansas, counties like Benton and Washington remain under strict no-burn orders, with local fire marshals enforcing zero-tolerance policies. Violations, considered a Class A misdemeanor, could result in fines or jail time.
“Even a cigarette flicked out a window could ignite a fire that spreads out of control,” warned Tommy Bishop, Division Chief of the Fort Smith Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s Office. The bans prohibit all outdoor burning, including bonfires, brush piles, and burn barrels, though grilling on non-flammable surfaces is still permitted.
Across the border in Oklahoma, 44 of the state’s 77 counties are under burn bans, according to the latest update from Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Counties such as Sequoyah, LeFlore, and Adair in the northeast, along with Kingfisher and Logan further west, are among those affected.
County commissioners have enacted these restrictions, which can last up to 14 days unless renewed, while Governor-proclaimed bans—capable of covering multiple counties or the entire state—loom as a possibility if conditions deteriorate further. Assistant fire marshals in Oklahoma are cracking down on violations, with penalties including fines up to $1,200 or six months in jail.
The Oklahoma Forestry Services report attributes the bans to a combination of near-record temperatures, prolonged drought, and wildland fuels that are “ primed to burn.”
A recent wildfire in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which has scorched over 12,000 acres and remains less than 50% contained, underscores the severity of the situation. “We’re not just looking at today’s weather but the long-term outlook,” said a spokesperson for the agency. “Without rain, the risk only grows.”
Residents in both states are adapting to the restrictions, with some expressing frustration over the inability to clear yard debris or enjoy campfires. However, officials emphasize the necessity of the measures.
“It’s a small inconvenience compared to losing your home,” said Melody Kwok, Benton County Director of Communications.
She noted that the county has already seen two judge-ordered burn bans in 2025, an unusually high number this early in the year.
Weather forecasts offer little relief, with the National Weather Service predicting dry conditions and above-average temperatures for at least the next week. The U.S. Drought Monitor currently lists much of Arkansas and Oklahoma in severe to extreme drought categories, amplifying concerns among fire officials.
As the bans remain in effect, authorities are urging the public to report any signs of smoke or fire immediately and to avoid activities that could spark a blaze. “Prevention is our best tool right now,” Fox said. “We’re all in this together until the rains come back.”
For the latest updates on burn ban statuses, residents can check the Arkansas Forestry Division’s website or Oklahoma Forestry Services’ burn ban map. Until conditions improve, the message from officials is clear: stay vigilant, and keep the flames at bay.
