Whether there is a burn ban in Pulaski County, Arkansas right now depends on current drought and wind conditions, and the status can change within days. The fastest way to confirm is the Arkansas Forestry Division’s interactive map, which color-codes every county by fire danger and ban status.1Arkansas Forestry Division. Wildfire Danger and Burn Bans When a ban is active, all outdoor burning is prohibited, and lighting a fire anyway is a criminal offense that can also expose you to double the damages if the fire spreads.
How to Check the Current Status
Start with the Forestry Division map linked above. The state also maintains a portal page that routes to the same map.2Arkansas.gov. State Burn Ban Map For local alerts, the Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office post when a ban is declared or lifted; following their social media accounts is the quickest way to catch a sudden change.
Check the same day you plan to burn. A map you looked at last week tells you nothing about today.
What a Burn Ban Prohibits
When the Pulaski County Judge issues a burn order, all outdoor burning is prohibited.3OzarksFirst. Pulaski County Burn Ban Still in Effect That language is deliberately broad: trash burning, leaf piles, brush fires, outdoor fire pits, and bonfires are all out. The ban typically applies to unincorporated areas, because incorporated cities enforce their own fire codes, though cities sometimes mirror the county’s restriction.
Cooking on a self-contained propane or charcoal grill is generally treated differently from open burning and is not typically prohibited, but confirm with the county before assuming an exception applies to you. Agricultural operations and prescribed burns run by land management professionals can sometimes qualify for separate permits, and those permits are suspended or heavily restricted during an active ban. When in doubt, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office or the Arkansas Forestry Division before you light anything.
Who Declares a Ban and Why
Under Arkansas law, the county judge, who is the chief executive of a county government in Arkansas, can declare a local disaster emergency. That declaration is the legal mechanism behind a burn ban and lets the judge suspend fire prevention codes and other regulatory ordinances when strict compliance would interfere with managing the emergency.4Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-108 – Local Disaster Emergencies – Declaration
The practical trigger is usually prolonged drought. Officials track the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which measures soil moisture deficit on a scale from zero to 800. Readings between 600 and 800 signal severe drought with a high probability of intense, deep-burning wildfires and significant downwind spotting.5Drought.gov. Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) – U.S. Forest Service High-wind forecasts from the National Weather Service can also push officials to act at lower drought levels, because wind turns a manageable fire into a fast-moving one.
Criminal Penalties for Burning During a Ban
Arkansas fire statutes are steep, and burning during a declared ban makes it harder to argue the fire was accidental or reasonable.
- Unlawful burning is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.6Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning
- Failure to control or report a dangerous fire is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.7Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Arkansas Code – Fire Law
- Reckless burning that causes serious property damage or endangers lives is a Class D felony, with up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.7Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Arkansas Code – Fire Law
- Certain fire-related acts rise to Class C felonies, carrying three to ten years in prison and fines up to $10,000.7Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Arkansas Code – Fire Law
Civil Liability if Your Fire Spreads
Criminal fines are only part of the picture. Under Arkansas law, anyone who starts or is responsible for a fire that damages another person’s property can be sued for double the actual damages.7Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Arkansas Code – Fire Law If your burn pile escapes and destroys a neighbor’s fence, outbuilding, or timber, a court can award twice the replacement cost. Government agencies that deploy crews and equipment to suppress a fire caused by negligence may also seek to recover suppression costs. A single escaped fire during a drought can generate tens of thousands of dollars in combined liability, and homeowner’s insurance policies often exclude coverage for intentional acts like burning during a declared ban.
Rules When No Ban Is in Effect
Even when Pulaski County has no active ban, outdoor burning is regulated by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality. Residents may burn yard waste collected from the property where it was grown, but the practice is discouraged and permitted only under specified conditions.8Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. Division of Environmental Quality – Open Burning State and local authorities can layer on stricter rules.
Tires, plastics, treated lumber, and roofing shingles release toxic fumes when burned and are prohibited from open burning under state regulations. Anything beyond basic yard waste disposal requires a letter of authorization from the Division of Environmental Quality showing no other safe, lawful disposal method is available.9Code of Arkansas Rules. 8 CAR 40-505 – Open Burning Authorizations Local fire codes may add minimum distances from structures and require someone to attend the fire until it is fully out.
Even on a clear day with no ban, you cannot pile up whatever you want and strike a match. Stick to natural yard debris from your own property, keep the fire attended, and call your local fire department if you are unsure whether your city has stricter rules than the county.