Large forest fire Thursday closes highway, VFDs protecting structures
Photo is by Fred Bunch
CENTER POINT – A large forest fire Tuesday afternoon in Howard County between Center Point and Dierks led to a highway closing and a multi-agency and multi-county response to bring it under control.
Multiple 911 calls reporting a large woods fire on both sides of U.S. Highway 278 from Fellowship Baptist Church north of Center Point to the De Queen & Eastern Railroad crossing south of Dierks began to pour in to the Howard County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center in Nashville.
Dierks and Center Point Volunteer Fire Departments were initially dispatched, and as firemen and law enforcement and other first responders begin to arrive, they immediately began asking for additional assistance from area volunteer fire departments and the Arkansas Forestry Division. Authorities began stationing resources around homes and the Fellowship Baptist Church to protect the structures in the heavily wooded location until lines could be plowed in the forests.
With zero visibility because of the smoke, Highway 278 was closed between Center Point and Dierks with traffic re-routed off the meandering and hilly stretch of the roadway.
As the fire was contained, ArDot re-opened the highway and reports from the scene indicated no structures were lost.
Joining the multiple fire departments were Weyerhaeuser, Pafford EMS, Howard County Office of Emergency Management, Howard County Sheriff’s Department, Dierks Police Department, Arkansas State Police, ArDot, Arkansas Forestry Division, etc.
Tuesday night, Howard County Judge Brent Pinkerton released the following statement on social media:
“I’m not sure about acreage involved….and I really don’t have any official details or info about the fire near Dierks this afternoon. That’s not the purpose of this post. It was a bad situation that could have been a WHOLE lot worse. Areas around Fellowship Road, Harris Road and Green Plains Road were charred.
By the grace of God, no homes in the area have been damaged or destroyed. I can’t begin to say how grateful every one of us should be for our volunteer fire departments. Just about every fire department in Howard County responded….as did firemen from neighboring counties. Some will be in this area until it is deemed safe to leave. Support these departments when they have a fundraiser. Forestry, Weyerhaeuser, and countless individuals who brought heavy equipment, were all instrumental to help contain the fire. Pafford Medical has also been on scene to help, if needed.
Law enforcement from the Howard County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas State Police and Dierks Police Department do what they always do…secure the scene and make sure people are safe.
Howard County Office of Emergency management has been here all evening coordinating information to state officials.
Sevier County sent water trucks and Pike County also offered any assistance we needed this evening.
If you believe in the power of prayer, pray tonight for no winds and especially that we get some rain sooner than later!!!
All these folks here this evening is just another example of what makes this area the BEST in Arkansas!!” Unquote.