Fire shuts down I-30; smoke warning for local area

PHOTO: Smoke from an Interstate 30 woods fire rises above the horizon at Ouachita Public Schools on US Highway 67 Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. | Natalie Scrimshire photo

A grass fire that started around noon Saturday, Oct. 19, shut down one lane of traffic on Interstate 30 for a few hours and created a smoke warning near the Clark and Hot Spring county line.

Fire officials responded to the 85 westbound, near the Friendship exit, when a grass fire spread into the woods on the north side of the interstate.

The blaze created an enormous plume of smoke that was visible from both Arkadelphia and Malvern. At least three Hot Spring County fire departments were called to battle the fire. Caddo Valley firefighters were requested for mutual aid soon after other agencies arrived at the scene.

The fire continued burning throughout much of the afternoon.

By 4 p.m. crews from the Arkansas Forestry Division had dispatched four bulldozers and two air tankers to extinguish the fire.

The Southwest Rural Volunteer Fire Department, in Hot Spring County, issued a smoke warning, saying on social media that smoke is expected to persist for “several days.” The agency said no houses or personal property were in immediate danger.

The interstate was open by 4 p.m., according to the iDriveArkansas app.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been established, although it appeared that the initial roadside grass was likely caused by a lit cigarette butt tossed from a passing vehicle.

Most counties throughout Arkansas remain under a burn ban as drought conditions worsen due to lack of rainfall. Burning outdoors is strictly prohibited while a burn ban is in effect, and is punishable by a fine.