Fire allowed to burn itself out

Forest fire northeast of Sulphur Springs causes smoke over region

With heavy smoke obscuring the hills and trees in the background, fire officials discussed and monitored the 700-plus-acre blaze northeast of Sulphur Springs last week. Air as far south at Gravette was filled with varying amounts of smoke during the several-day fire which blackened the rough, hilly, scantily-settled terrain. George Stowe-Rains, second from left, said the blaze was contained in an area in which no persons or structures were threatened and the plan was to let the fire burn itself out and clear undergrowth and allow the forested area to re-estblish itself. Others in the photo are, from the left, Charley Orr, Asst. Fire Chief at Sulphur Springs; John Varner, Sulphur Springs Fire Chief, and Will Hanna, Benton County Fire Marshal.
With heavy smoke obscuring the hills and trees in the background, fire officials discussed and monitored the 700-plus-acre blaze northeast of Sulphur Springs last week. Air as far south at Gravette was filled with varying amounts of smoke during the several-day fire which blackened the rough, hilly, scantily-settled terrain. George Stowe-Rains, second from left, said the blaze was contained in an area in which no persons or structures were threatened and the plan was to let the fire burn itself out and clear undergrowth and allow the forested area to re-estblish itself. Others in the photo are, from the left, Charley Orr, Asst. Fire Chief at Sulphur Springs; John Varner, Sulphur Springs Fire Chief, and Will Hanna, Benton County Fire Marshal.

— A large forest fire in rough terrain northeast of Sulphur Springs was expected to burn itself out over last weekend and clear the air over a large area in northwest Benton County.

The fire consumed mostly underbrush and growth on approximately 700 acres, according to Benton County Forest Commission ranger George Stowe-Rains.

Forestry personnel and Sulphur Springs firefighters were involved in containing the fire to the rough, hilly terrain. No structures were threatened.

“It was hard to get back to where the fire was,” said John Varner, Sulphur Springs fire chief.

Backfires were set to help contain the blaze. There are very few roads in the area, about four miles east and north of Sulphur Springs.

Will Hanna, Benton County fire marshal, said that monitoring the fire to keep it contained allowed the fire to clear the large acreage of heavy underbrush.

“The land will actually be better,” Hanna said.

Because of the hot, dry summer, the threat of fires has been great. Hanna spoke of the fire that burned about 900 acresnorth of Maysville several weeks ago.

People should be extremely careful with fires. It was noted that as trees shed their leaves this fall and vegetation dies, the fire threat will be even greater.

Although a county-wide burnban is not in effect at this time, conditions can change rapidly and people should be aware of that.

For information concerning burning permits in Benton County, or to check on conditions, call toll-free 866-207-5140.

News, Pages 1 on 09/14/2011