Whether there is a burn ban in Garland County right now depends on current drought and fire conditions, and the status changes through the year. The fastest way to find out is the Garland County Alert Center at garlandcounty.org, which posts the county judge’s executive order the moment a ban takes effect and removes it when the ban is lifted.1Garland County, AR. Alert Center When a ban is active, almost all outdoor burning stops in unincorporated parts of the county, fireworks are off-limits, and a violation is a criminal offense.
How to Check the Current Status
Two sources will tell you where things stand today. The county’s Alert Center lists every active emergency declaration, burn bans included, with the effective date on the posted alert.1Garland County, AR. Alert Center The Arkansas Department of Agriculture publishes a statewide burn ban map that color-codes every county and is updated regularly, which is a good backup if the county page is slow.2Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Wildfire Danger and Burn Bans The state portal at arkansas.gov links to the same map.3Arkansas.gov. State Burn Ban Map
If you want to talk to a person, the Garland County Department of Emergency Management is at 501-767-3911.4Garland County, AR. Department of Emergency Management
One thing catches people out: a county burn ban only covers unincorporated areas. Cities inside Garland County, including Hot Springs, issue their own separate burn bans, and the two do not always match. You can be under a city ban but not a county one, or the reverse. If your address is inside city limits, check with the city too.
What a Burn Ban Prohibits
When a ban is in effect, outdoor fires of any kind are prohibited in unincorporated Garland County. That covers what most people burn first: leaf piles, brush, fallen limbs, and household trash. It also covers bonfires, land-clearing fires, and any open flame where the smoke goes straight into the air rather than up a chimney or stack.
Consumer fireworks are prohibited as well. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture treats fireworks the same as campfires, bonfires, and debris burning when a county ban is active. Residents who think of fireworks as a Fourth of July issue are often surprised, but during a ban they count as open flame.
Sky lanterns are a separate matter and worth flagging: they are banned statewide at all times, not just during burn bans. Arkansas Code § 20-22-717 prohibits the sale or use of sky lanterns, defined as unmanned free-floating devices that hold an open flame. The only exception is a permit from a first- or second-class city for a public event, and even that permit can be pulled if the local fire department finds conditions unsafe.5Justia. Arkansas Code 20-22-717 – Sale or Use of Sky Lanterns – Definition
What Is Still Allowed
Not every flame triggers a violation. Gas and charcoal grills used for cooking are generally permitted during a ban if an adult stays with the grill the whole time and the fire stays inside the unit. The real concern is wind-carried sparks, so keeping the lid on when possible and having water nearby is sensible.
Small recreational fire pits fitted with a spark arrestor or heavy mesh screen may be acceptable, but this is where the specific wording of the county judge’s order matters. Some orders are stricter than others. If the posted order says “all outdoor fires,” fire pits are out. If it carves out an exception for contained recreational fires, you have room to work with. Read the actual order rather than guessing.
Agricultural operations and prescribed burns run by certified fire managers may qualify for exemptions. These typically require advance coordination with local fire departments and the Arkansas Forestry Division, notification to emergency dispatch before ignition, and compliance with conditions like wind speed limits and on-site suppression equipment. Agricultural burns are handled separately from ordinary open burning and need direct approval from fire officials.
Penalties If You Burn Anyway
A burn ban is issued as a local disaster emergency declaration under the Arkansas Emergency Services Act, so ignoring it is a criminal offense enforceable by the Garland County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s volunteer fire departments. What happens next depends on what your fire does.
Misdemeanor Fines
A violation with no injuries and no property damage is a misdemeanor. Arkansas caps misdemeanor fines at $2,500 for a Class A, $1,000 for a Class B, and $500 for a Class C.6Justia. Arkansas Code 5-4-201 – Fines – Limitations on Amount Court costs are added on top. The exact classification depends on the county ordinance and the specific executive order in effect, so the fine can land anywhere in that range.
Felony Reckless Burning
The stakes jump if your fire causes real harm. Under Arkansas Code § 5-38-302, a person who purposely starts a fire and recklessly creates a substantial risk of death or serious injury, destroys or substantially damages an occupied structure, or destroys or substantially damages a vital public facility commits reckless burning, a Class D felony.7Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-302 – Reckless Burning A Class D felony carries up to six years in prison8Justia. Arkansas Code 5-4-401 – Sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.6Justia. Arkansas Code 5-4-201 – Fines – Limitations on Amount A careless brush fire during a dry spell can turn a minor violation into a felony conviction.
Civil Damages and Suppression Costs
The criminal case is only part of it. If an illegal fire spreads to neighboring property, the person who lit it can be sued for the full cost of the damage: destroyed structures, scorched timber, lost livestock. Arkansas also has a reimbursement process that lets volunteer and municipal fire departments bill the responsible party for the resources spent fighting the fire.
Who Declares the Ban and How Long It Lasts
The Garland County Judge has the authority to declare a burn ban under the Arkansas Emergency Services Act of 1973.9Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-101 – Title Arkansas Code § 12-75-108 lets the chief executive of a political subdivision declare a local disaster emergency, which activates response plans and grants temporary authority over local rules, including fire prevention codes.10Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-108 – Local Disaster Emergencies – Declaration
A ban stays in place until the county judge signs a new order lifting it. State law says a local disaster declaration cannot run past 120 days without consent from the county’s governing body.10Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-108 – Local Disaster Emergencies – Declaration In practice, Garland County bans usually last weeks. Sufficient rain or a sustained drop in fire danger typically prompts the judge to rescind the order well before that 120-day limit.
Reporting a Violation
If a fire is actively spreading, call 911. For non-emergency reports of someone burning during a ban, or general questions about the rules on your property, the Garland County 911 Communications Center is at 501-622-3666 or 501-622-3667. The center dispatches the county’s nine volunteer fire departments and can route your call to the right district.11Garland County, AR. 911 Communications Center For questions specifically about the status of a disaster declaration or a burn ban order, call the Department of Emergency Management at 501-767-3911.4Garland County, AR. Department of Emergency Management