Arkansas authorities battling wildfire near Camden industrial park

Arkansas authorities are battling a wildfire that has burned more than 2,300 acres near a Camden industrial park where several defense contractors are located.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday ordered the Arkansas National Guard to deploy two Black Hawk Helicopters with “Bambi buckets” that are used to drop water onto wildfires to assist in responding to the blaze.

Sanders also directed two bulldozers and a fire plow to respond to the wildfire. Ten Guard members will support the wildfire mission, according to a news release.

“We’re closely monitoring the ongoing fire at Highland Industrial Park in Camden,” Sanders said in a post on X Monday night. “State personnel are working to contain it and evacuate the area.”

The fire was about 35% contained by Tuesday night. Fifteen homes and about 150 workers had been evacuated and residents were allowed to return Tuesday night, the state Department of Agriculture said.

Highland Industrial Park is home to several defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to the facilities. Sanders said Tuesday state has been working with the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

Hegseth touts Arkansas missile industry in speech at arms factory expansion site

The fire began on Monday and the cause is unknown. 

Lockheed Martin said Tuesday its facility remained operational and its employees remained safe. The company said it would continue to assess the situation.

“The safety of our employees and operations remains our highest priority,” the company said in a statement. “We continue to closely monitor the wildfires in the Camden area and are taking appropriate precautions in coordination with local authorities.”

By late Tuesday morning, crews had dropped 16,800 gallons of water on the wildfire, the National Guard said in an X post.

“The city of Camden is currently monitoring and assisting in the response to the devastating fire near the Highland industrial Park – the very epicenter of our local industry where countless of our citizens are employed,” Camden Mayor Charlotte Young said in a statement posted on the city’s Facebook page. 

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said Tuesday it activated the state emergency operations center in response to the wildfire, which will allow agencies to coordinate closely.

Temporary shelters had been set up in Hampton at Victory Baptist Church, the Hampton High School Library and Hampton First Assembly of God Church, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Southern Arkansas University Tech evacuated students living on campus Monday night because of smoke from the wildfire. The students were given the all-clear to return to their dorms late Monday night. 

“Crews have been working extremely hard for many hours,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post Tuesday morning. “Please give them room to work and be patient as efforts continue.”

All of Arkansas’ 75 counties are at high risk of wildfires and burn bans are in effect in 68 counties, according to a map from the state Department of Agriculture.