Branch City Rural Fire & Rescue

Branch City Rural Fire & Rescue We are a Volunteer Fire Rescue Department serving approx 60 sq. miles and 1000 citizens. We have 2 pumpers,1 pumper/tanker,1 tanker, and 2 brush rigs. ISO class 6

We cover a K-12 school with approx 500 students and faculty, and 25 miles of state hwy.

STRUCTURE FIRE – MUTUAL AID At approximately 10:35 AM today, Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue was paged to provide mutual...
08/31/2026

STRUCTURE FIRE – MUTUAL AID

At approximately 10:35 AM today, Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue was paged to provide mutual aid to Oak Bend/Etna Fire Department for a structure fire on Nietert Lane. Everyone had reportedly evacuated the residence.

Upon arrival, crews encountered a residence that had sustained significant fire involvement. Firefighters worked to extinguish the remaining fire, check for extension, and complete overhaul of the structure.

Charleston Fire Department was also requested and responded to assist with the incident.

The photos show just how much heat and smoke can travel throughout a home. Even areas that were not directly involved in fire sustained significant smoke and heat damage.

We appreciate the teamwork and cooperation between all departments involved. Mutual aid is an important part of protecting our rural communities, and incidents like this are a good example of departments working together when additional manpower and equipment are needed.

Thank you to Oak Bend/Etna Fire Department and Charleston Fire Department for the teamwork.

No additional information regarding the cause of the fire is available at this time.

Franklin county wildfire danger has been elevated to high. The public is urged to avoid activities that could unintentio...
08/31/2026

Franklin county wildfire danger has been elevated to high.

The public is urged to avoid activities that could unintentionally start a fire and to follow all local burn restrictions. .

08/31/2026

🔥 WEEKLY WEATHER & FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK 🔥
Branch / Franklin County, Arkansas
September 1–7, 2026

We are heading into another very hot and dry week, and fire conditions remain a serious concern across our area.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Temperatures will remain around or above 100°F through much of the week, with mostly sunny skies and very little relief from the heat.

• Tuesday: Around 101°F
• Wednesday: Around 101°F
• Thursday: Around 102°F
• Friday: Around 101°F
• Saturday: Around 102°F
• Sunday: Around 104°F
• Labor Day: Around 100°F

Overnight temperatures will generally remain in the 70s.

FIRE WEATHER

According to the Forestry division, wildfire danger is high for Franklin County this week. The National Weather Service continues to highlight worsening drought conditions across western Arkansas and increasing fire-weather concerns.

With another week of intense heat and limited rainfall, grass, brush, leaf litter and other vegetation will continue drying. Even without extreme winds, these conditions can allow a fire to ignite easily and spread quickly.

BURN BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT

Franklin County remains under an official burn ban.

Please do not conduct outdoor burning. Avoid activities that could produce sparks or hot debris around dry vegetation, including welding, grinding, dragging chains and parking hot vehicles or equipment in tall dry grass. PLEASE USE EXTRA CAUTION

We have already seen how quickly fires can spread under our current conditions. Another week of 100-degree temperatures and little meaningful rainfall will only increase the concern.

If you see smoke or an uncontrolled fire, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. Early reporting gives firefighters the best opportunity to contain a fire before it becomes a larger incident.

Please stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, and check on neighbors, elderly family members and outdoor animals.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue

08/26/2026

🔥 MID-WEEK WEATHER, FIRE DANGER & BURN BAN UPDATE 🔥
Wednesday, August 26, 2026

⚠️ FRANKLIN COUNTY REMAINS UNDER A BURN BAN ⚠️

The Franklin County Burn Ban remains IN EFFECT until further notice.

Even with thunderstorms and some rainfall possible today, the burn ban has NOT been lifted.

NO OUTDOOR BURNING

Conditions across our area remain dry enough that fires can start easily and spread rapidly through grass, brush, fields and wooded areas.

Please do not assume that a little rain means it is safe to burn. Rainfall can vary considerably from one location to another, and dead vegetation can dry back out very quickly.

WEATHER UPDATE

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across western Arkansas this afternoon and evening.

The primary threats are:

• Damaging wind gusts
• Large hail
• Frequent lightning
• Heavy rainfall in some locations

Lightning can also start fires, particularly in areas that receive little rainfall.

FIRE CONDITIONS

Despite today's rain chances, wildfire danger remains a concern across Arkansas. Hot and dry conditions are expected to return behind this system, which could quickly dry vegetation again.

Please continue to use extra caution with:

• Mowing and equipment that may create sparks
• Welding or grinding outdoors
• Trailer chains dragging on pavement
• Ci******es and other smoking materials
• Anything capable of igniting dry grass or vegetation

🚫 Again, Franklin County remains under a BURN BAN until further notice.

Please help us prevent the next wildfire. Our departments have already responded to several vegetation fires during this dry period, and many of these fires can be prevented.

If you see smoke or an uncontrolled fire, CALL 911 immediately.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue

08/26/2026

Line rd is closed from Kersey rd to the intersection at Turkey k**b rd and ONeal rd for a gas line repair. Expected time is 4-5 hours.

08/24/2026

🔥 WEEKLY FIRE WEATHER, WEATHER, BURN BAN & DROUGHT UPDATE 🔥
August 24–30, 2026
Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue | Franklin County, Arkansas

As we begin another week, dry conditions and wildfire danger remain a concern across Franklin County and much of Arkansas. While we do have some opportunities for thunderstorms and beneficial rainfall this week, everyone should continue taking the current fire conditions seriously.

BURN BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT

Franklin County remains under a BURN BAN until further notice.

Please continue to avoid outdoor burning and follow all restrictions of the burn ban. Conditions can change quickly, but until the ban is officially lifted, please consider it ACTIVE.

WILDFIRE DANGER

Wildfire danger remains elevated across Arkansas due to prolonged dry conditions, stressed vegetation and an abundance of dry fuels.

Even where rain falls this week, areas of dry grass, leaves, brush and timber may remain capable of carrying fire. Locations that miss the scattered thunderstorms will see little improvement.

Please use extra caution with:
• Mowing or equipment that may strike rocks and create sparks
• Welding or cutting outdoors
• Vehicles parked in tall, dry grass
• Trailer chains dragging on pavement
• Ci******es and other smoking materials
• Any activity capable of producing sparks or flame

DROUGHT UPDATE

Drought and abnormally dry conditions continue across Arkansas. The latest drought information shows conditions have worsened in portions of the state, with approximately 2.4 million Arkansas residents currently living in areas experiencing drought.

The prolonged heat and lack of widespread rainfall have also placed additional stress on vegetation, creating more available fuel for wildfires.

FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK

The best opportunity for improvement will come from rainfall early and during the middle of the week. However, thunderstorms are expected to be scattered, so rainfall totals may vary considerably from one location to another.

Areas receiving substantial rainfall could see a temporary reduction in fire danger, while areas that receive little or no rain will remain dry.

With temperatures climbing back into the mid to upper 90s later in the week, vegetation can dry rapidly again.

PLEASE DON'T LET RAIN IN THE FORECAST CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

Until we receive widespread, meaningful rainfall and the Franklin County Burn Ban is officially lifted, please continue to use extreme caution.

NO OUTDOOR BURNING WHILE THE BURN BAN IS IN EFFECT.

📞 If you see a fire or suspicious smoke, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. Early notification can make a major difference in keeping a small fire from becoming a large wildfire.

Please help us protect our community, our neighbors and our firefighters.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue
Franklin County, Arkansas

08/22/2026

🔥 WEEKEND WEATHER & FIRE WEATHER UPDATE 🔥
Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue
Friday, August 21, 2026

As we head into the weekend, hot, dry conditions and ongoing drought concerns continue to keep wildfire danger elevated across our area.

🌡️ WEEKEND WEATHER

Saturday:
☀️ Partly sunny
🌡️ High around 96°F
🌙 Low around 73°F

Sunday:
⛅ Partly sunny and hot
🌡️ High around 96°F
🌙 Low around 74°F
⛈️ A chance for an afternoon thunderstorm

While temperatures will be a little lower than the extreme heat we have experienced recently, mid-90s temperatures will continue to dry grass, fields, brush and other vegetation quickly.

🔥 FIRE WEATHER

Recent rainfall in some locations has helped temporarily, but it has not eliminated the overall fire concern. Dry vegetation remains capable of supporting fast-moving grass and brush fires.

Any thunderstorm that develops may provide localized rainfall, but storms can also produce gusty and shifting winds. Areas that miss the rain can remain very dry.

⚠️ BURN BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT

Franklin County remains under a burn ban.

Please continue to avoid outdoor burning and use extra caution with anything capable of producing a spark or flame.

This includes:
• Brush and debris burning
• Burn barrels
• Campfires and open flames
• Welding or cutting around dry vegetation
• Equipment that may create sparks
• Carelessly discarded ci******es

DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Drought and prolonged dry conditions continue to affect Arkansas. Even where scattered rainfall has occurred, it will take widespread and repeated rainfall to significantly improve dry fuels and longer-term drought conditions.

Grass may appear greener after a shower while dead vegetation underneath remains extremely dry and capable of carrying fire.

PLEASE USE EXTRA CAUTION

We have already seen how quickly roadside and grass fires can spread under these conditions. A small fire can become a larger incident in only minutes, especially when wind pushes it into fields, brush or wooded areas.

If you see smoke or an unattended fire, do not assume someone else has reported it. Call 911 immediately. Early notification can make a major difference in keeping a fire small.

Please continue to respect the burn ban and help us protect our community, our property and our firefighters.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue

BRUSH FIRE RESPONSE – BROOKLYN ROADAt approximately 2:23 PM on Wednesday, August 19, Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue was...
08/20/2026

BRUSH FIRE RESPONSE – BROOKLYN ROAD

At approximately 2:23 PM on Wednesday, August 19, Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported brush fire in the area of the 400 block of Brooklyn Road.

Branch Fire responded with two brush trucks and two personnel. Upon arrival, crews found an active fire that appeared to have originated near the edge of Brooklyn Road. Wind was pushing the fire through roadside brush and into an adjoining field, contributing to its rapid spread.

The advancing fire came within close proximity to a couple structures and a significant amount of combustible debris, including pallets, tires, brush piles, and other materials. These exposures created the potential for the incident to become significantly larger and more difficult to control.

With assistance from Charleston Fire Department and Ratcliff Fire Department, crews made a coordinated attack and quickly brought the fire under control, stopping it before it reached the nearby structures and debris piles.

Approximately 4–5 acres of brush and field were burned. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Hot and dry conditions, combined with wind and dry vegetation, increased the potential for rapid fire spread this afternoon. Once the fire moved from the roadside brush into the field, the wind allowed it to advance quickly toward the nearby exposures.

We would like to thank Charleston Fire Department and Ratcliff Fire Department for their prompt response and assistance. The quick, coordinated mutual-aid response helped prevent this incident from becoming significantly larger.

We would also like to thank the individual who noticed the fire and promptly called 911. Early reporting is extremely important, especially under current fire conditions. That quick call allowed firefighters to respond and begin suppression efforts before the fire could reach the nearby structures and combustible materials.

Please continue to use extra caution with anything capable of producing a spark or flame. If you see an unattended fire or suspicious smoke, do not assume someone else has reported it—call 911.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue

08/19/2026

🔥 MID-WEEK WEATHER & FIRE CONDITIONS UPDATE 🔥
Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue wants everyone to remain weather-aware and extremely cautious with anything that could start a fire as we head through the second half of the week.

EXTREME HEAT TODAY
An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect until 9:00 PM tonight for Central and Southern Franklin County. Heat index values may reach or exceed 110°F. Anyone working outdoors should take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

STORM CHANCES
There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and again over the next several days. Any storm could produce gusty winds and lightning. Remember—a small amount of rain in one location does not mean our overall fire danger has disappeared.

FIRE WEATHER / WILDFIRE CONCERNS
Vegetation remains very dry across our area. The National Weather Service fire-weather forecast for Franklin County shows temperatures around 108°F today, afternoon humidity falling to around 26%, and southwest winds around 7 mph. These conditions can allow a fire to start easily and spread rapidly.

BURN BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT
Franklin County remains under a BURN BAN until further notice.
NO OUTDOOR BURNING. Even if your property received rain from a passing storm, the burn ban remains in effect until it is officially lifted.

REST OF THE WEEK
The extreme heat isn't going away quickly. Temperatures are expected to remain near or above 100°F through much of the weekend, with only scattered chances for rain.

PLEASE HELP US PREVENT THE NEXT WILDFIRE.
With the heat and dry fuels we've experienced, one spark can quickly turn into a much larger incident.

If you see a wildfire or uncontrolled fire, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Branch City/Rural Fire & Rescue
Protecting our community through prevention, preparedness, and response.

Address

22 N. Jones Street
Branch, AR
72928

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