Wildfires break out at old Fort Chaffee

Wildfires break out at old Fort Chaffee
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2008 5:35:20 EST

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Several wildfires broke out at Fort Chaffee late Tuesday morning, spreading to vacant barracks as high winds fanned the flames.

Fort Smith City Administrator Randy Reed said between 30 and 40 buildings were involved in the blaze and businesses that moved to property once part of the old army post were evacuated. There were no reports of injuries.

Reed said the fires burned on about 10 to 20 acres of the roughly 6,000 acres declared surplus more than 10 years ago and awarded to a community group for private development. He said the fires, while inside the Fort Smith city limits, were not threatening any residential or commercial neighborhoods.

“There’re old barracks that are no longer in use. These were buildings that were scheduled to come down anyway,” Reed said.

Reed suspected the fires began as a grass fire and spread because of the dry, windy weather. Gusts of nearly 50 mph were reported in the area Tuesday.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_chaffeefire_080129/

injured in the blaze and it didn't reach any residential areas.







More local coverage:

http://www.kfsm.com/global/story.asp?s=7790405