Police & Fire

I-30 grass fire prompts response from 4 agencies

A grass fire Friday afternoon slowed westbound traffic on Interstate 30 as firefighters worked to douse the spreading flames.

A Caddo Valley fire truck arrives at the scene of a fire Friday at the Country Club Road overpass of Interstate 30.

At 2:22 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, the Caddo Valley Fire Department was dispatched to the I-30 overpass for a grass fire on the west side of the highway. Firefighters from DeGray and Arkadelphia were summoned to the scene by 2:50 p.m., followed later by the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

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A bulldozer driver with the Arkansas Forestry Commission cuts a fire break to stop the spread of the fire.
Dave Fenocchi of the Arkadelphia Fire Department douses a hillside from the shoulder of the interstate.

The forestry commission has the entire southwestern portion of the state under a “moderate” wildfire danger, though only Sebastian and Pike county judges have issued burn bans.

It isn’t known what caused the fire, although officials at the scene said roadside fires are typically caused by a lit cigarette tossed from a vehicle, especially under dry conditions.

Arkadelphia firefighter Kyle Holt sprays the charred earth during a wildfire that damaged about an acre of property off of Country Club Road. Photos by Joel Phelps/The Arkadelphian