| August 7, a crew of four wildland firefighters with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division left to work wildfires in Oregon. The crew returned on August 27 after working in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in a 12-person fire suppression module. Suppression modules are typically comprised of at least five firefighters and are primarily used to extinguish and/or prevent the movement of unwanted fire. Due to the recent wildfire activity and drought levels in the region, the module was assembled to assist with fire suppression. The crew worked on the 69-acre Corral Fire in Northeast Oregon, which was contained on August 18. “This region is experiencing drought and their emergency response resources were running thin,” said Wes McKinney, Fire Management Officer for the Forestry Division. “They were seeing multiple fires over multiple days and needed additional support.” The crew consists of the following wildland firefighters from Arkansas: Deric Franks (District 8)Lee Chambers (District 8)Eric Rogers (District 6)Keaton Phillips (District 6) “We are proud of our staff who volunteered to do hard, labor-intensive work to help safeguard the people of Oregon,” said Arkansas State Forester Kyle Cunningham. “They are honored to use their training and expertise to provide assistance.” The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture, forestry, and natural resources to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while conserving natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. |
Arkansas Firefighters Return From Out-Of-State Detail in Oregon
August 30, 2023 by
