FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The number of burn bans across Arkansas is growing as drought conditions worsen.
As of Sunday afternoon, 18 Arkansas counties are under a burn ban:
- Benton
- Carroll
- Boone
- Washington
- Madison
- Newton
- Crawford
- Franklin
- Johnson
- Logan
- Yell
- Conway
- Garland
- Hot Spring
- Clark
- Ouachita
- Columbia
- Union
All of Northwest Arkansas is under “high” wildfire danger, according to the Arkansas Forestry Commission . Five counties that are under “high” wildfire danger are not under a burn ban: Sebastian, Pope, Saline, Grant and Dallas.
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Most of Northwest Arkansas and portions of central Arkansas are under severe drought, according to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor .
Rain has been hard to come by lately in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The National Weather Service says Fort Smith has received 0.96 inches since the start of September and Fayetteville has received 0.16 inches.