MALVERN -
Another June day in Arkansas brings warm temperatures to go with the crackling of dry ground.
Due to the conditions, the Arkansas Forestry Commission reports 27 counties are under strict conditions when it comes to recreational burning.
AFC is beginning to use its wings to smother fires before they spread.
Forestry pilots are taking flight to check rural areas that may be subject to fires. The scans come a few months earlier than normal because of this drought in several counties.
"The air patrol, a lot of times, we're the first ones on the scene because when we get in the air we can do a whole lot bigger area in a whole lot shorter time," said fire management officer Mark Cutrer.
"Once they circle the fire they can see if there's anybody out there, if there's any problems or if there's any lines around it."
As we flew with the AFC, we found a dark area that shows what can happen with one small spark. The black spot was remnants of a fire that was contained a couple of weeks ago.
Scanning is a serious job done by population density and in regions.
"We've been flying detection for the last couple of couple of months and we'll continue until we get a substantial rainfall," Cutrer said.
Even volunteer fire departments are staying on high alert this time of the year.
"We have beefed up our response system as much as possible, we have added a fire truck, a grass fire truck," added Greenbrier Fire Chief Cody Fulmer.
Fulmer said he's making sure his staff is ready whenever its called.
"We haven't had many guys take vacations because they realize you know that we need to be ready in a moment's notice," he continued.
The AFC's planes are solely used for patrol, not to actually put out a fire. It's intended to cut down on response times before fires can spread to more trees.
The commission says it fought 16 wildfires consuming over 200 acres just this past weekend.
The most important thing most people are worried about is homes, and four homes were threatened during the battles.
