A Sign of the Times: Burn Ban Still in Effect

We`ve been talking about the burn ban in Northwest Arkansas for some time now, yet some folks aren`t getting the message. KNWA`s Alexa Hamblin explains. Firefighters are literally spelling it out at this point, in both English and Spanish. They`re posting signs saying there`s a burn ban in effect and outdoor burning is prohibited. Springdale Fire Department Captain James Hales explains why it`s necessary, "You would think people have heard about it because it`s been flooded in the media lately, but there are people who are not getting the word... and a lot of it is carelessness, throwing a cigarette into the leaves, things of that nature." Springdale firefighters say it`s a message everyone should have picked up on by now, yet the fires keep coming. Since the burn ban went into effect on November 23rd, the Springdale Fire Department has worked 27 brush and grass fires and 40 illegal burns. "In the dry times, in the summer, we may have 10-12 fires per month, but we`re seeing more than twice that number," says Hales. In addition to posting signs about the burn ban outside their fire stations, Springdale firefighters are also undergoing special training with one of their own, Fred Adler. In his off time, Adler fights wildfires out west that pop up in the summer. He says the severely dry, windy conditions that start out-of-control fires in other states are right here in Northwest Arkansas. "People say, we haven`t been this dry in 20 years, we haven`t seen a fire in this area for 50 years, and we`re saying the same things right now," Adler explains. Adler is passing on his knowledge about how to prevent and fight these type of destructive fires to his fellow Springdale firefighters. "The weather, the wind, the structures that could be involved, we have to be prepared," he says. Soon firefighters will begin fining people for illegal burning. Those fines can range from $50 to $500 dollars, and up, depending on the severity of the fire. In Springdale... Alexa Hamblin... KNWA... Northwest Arkansas news.