Arkansas governor deploys firefighters to assist with Mississippi wildfires

By: Antoinette Grajeda - October 10, 2023 5:18 pm

A large plume of smoke from the Tiger Island Fire rises from forestland near Merryville in Beauregard Parish on Aug. 23, 2023. (Jenn Finley/La. Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry)

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has authorized 10 wildland firefighters from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division to aid Mississippi with its ongoing wildfire suppression efforts. The crew will be in Mississippi for a two-week period beginning today, Oct. 10.

Arkansas firefighters deployed to Louisiana to help with wildfire suppression efforts

Due to extended drought in Mississippi, the Arkansas firefighters are being mobilized as part of the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact, which enables participating state forestry agencies to send resources and personnel across state lines to suppress wildfires.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission has responded to more than 760 fires that have burned nearly 14,200 acres since Aug. 1, according to a press release.

The primary role of the Arkansas crew will be to respond to and suppress new fires in Southern Mississippi. Arkansas’ Forestry Division will also send five bulldozers to assist in the wildfire response efforts.

Sanders previously authorized the Forestry Division to send wildland firefighter crews to the Tiger Island Fire in Louisiana from Sept. 8 to 23 and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Oregon from Aug. 7 to 27.

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Antoinette Grajeda

Antoinette Grajeda is a multimedia journalist who has reported since 2007 on a wide range of topics, including politics, health, education, immigration and the arts for NPR affiliates, print publications and digital platforms. A University of Arkansas alumna, she earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a master’s degree in documentary film.