Interstate Partnership Mobilizes Wildfire Resources to Arkansas

Arkansas taps into a longstanding interstate partnership designed to quickly mobilize additional personnel and resources when wildfire activity increases

The South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact has been activated to provide Arkansas access to additional personnel and resources through a longstanding mutual-aid partnership among southern states, as persistent drought and worsening weather conditions contribute to increased wildfire activity in the state.

Russell Bozeman, Mississippi State Forester and chair of the South Central Forest Fire Compact, formally activated the Compact on September 18.

Arkansas wildfire personnel and equipment have been working extended hours for a prolonged period as conditions have intensified. The Compact activation allows participating states to more efficiently mobilize and share wildland firefighting personnel, equipment and other resources to support Arkansas’s response.

“Activation of the Compact will allow for improved movement of personnel and equipment among the states involved to assist in Arkansas’s wildfire response,” Bozeman said in the activation memorandum.

Interstate forest fire compacts provide an established framework for states to assist one another when wildfire activity exceeds or strains a state’s available resources. By coordinating requests and resource movement across state lines, participating agencies can quickly reinforce wildfire response while maintaining capacity to respond to incidents within their own states.

The South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact promotes coordinated wildfire prevention, preparedness and response across state boundaries and enables participating state forestry agencies to share wildland firefighting resources and personnel during times of need.