Arkansas wildland firefighters deployed to Kentucky

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sanders has authorized a crew of four wildland firefighters from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division to assist the State of Kentucky with their ongoing wildfire suppression efforts. Continued drought conditions across portions of the southern United States have resulted in an extended fire season in some states.
Forestry Division employees have been mobilized as part of the Southeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact. The compact enables participating state forestry agencies to send resources and personnel across state lines to suppress wildfires.
The four-person crew will be in Kentucky for a two-week period that began on November 13. The primary role of the crew will be to respond to and suppress new fires in eastern Kentucky. The Forestry Division also sent two dozers and two trucks to assist in the wildfire response efforts.

Earlier this month, Wes McKinney, Forestry Division Fire Management Officer, was activated as a member of the Southern Area Coordination Center Blue Team to assist in Kentucky.
Governor Sanders previously authorized the deployment of wildland firefighter crews to Mississippi from October 10 to 24, Louisiana from September 8 to 23, and Oregon from August 7 to 27.