Quick take
- What: A wildfire burned about 150 acres northeast of Magnolia in Columbia County on Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to the Magnolia Reporter, KSLA and KATV. Earlier reports from the Banner-News and KTBS said about 120 acres.
- Where: Sheriff Leroy Martin told the Magnolia Reporter the fire was in the Dudney Road and Columbia County Road 511 area, southwest of Logoly State Park. Other outlets placed it along County Road 47.
- Containment: Magnolia Fire Department said the fire was 100% contained. Crews stayed on scene for hot spots.
- People and homes: Columbia County Sheriff Leroy Martin said no injuries were reported and no habitable buildings were damaged. Evacuated residents were cleared to return; some stayed away because of smoke.
- Help: More than 75 firefighters from six departments responded, with Arkansas Forestry Division crews from Columbia, Union, Nevada and Lafayette counties. Rugged Cross Cowboy Church took in evacuees. Entergy said power to about 137 customers was restored.
A wildfire northeast of Magnolia burned about 150 acres on Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to the Magnolia Reporter, KSLA and KATV. The Reporter said Magnolia Fire Department later reported the fire 100% contained. Columbia County Sheriff Leroy Martin said no one was hurt and no habitable buildings were damaged.
Where it burned
The Arkansas Forestry Division told the Reporter the fire was reported at 3:31 p.m. An east wind pushed it through the area southwest of Logoly State Park and northeast of the Greer’s Chapel community. Earlier reports from the Magnolia Banner-News and KTBS put the burn at about 120 acres; later accounts from the Reporter, KSLA and KATV said about 150 acres.
Sheriff Martin told the Reporter the fire was in the Dudney Road and Columbia County Road 511 area. The Banner-News, also citing the sheriff, placed it along County Road 47 near Columbia roads 511 and 462. KATV said it was near County Road 511 and County Road 47.
Evacuations and power
Residents along Columbia Road 511 were told to leave while crews fought the fire, according to the Banner-News and KATV. Martin later said those residents were cleared to return. The Reporter said some people stayed away because of lingering smoke.
Entergy reported that about 137 customers in the Dudney Road and County Road 551 area lost power, and service has since been restored, according to the Reporter. Roadblocks at Dudney Road and U.S. 79, and off the Logoly State Park road, let firefighting traffic through.
Rugged Cross Cowboy Church opened as a temporary shelter for people who had to leave their homes, local outlets reported.
Who fought the fire
Magnolia Fire Department said more than 75 firefighters from six departments responded, with Arkansas Forestry Division help from Columbia, Union, Nevada and Lafayette counties, the Reporter reported. Plows and aerial tankers from Forestry, plus tankers and brush trucks from Magnolia and other city and rural departments, poured into the area.
Martin said crews would stay to knock down hot spots. The cause is still under investigation, the Reporter said.
Sources
- Magnolia Reporter: Now-contained wildfire burns about 150 acres northeast of Magnolia (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Magnolia Banner-News: Wildfire burns 120 acres near Magnolia, prompts evacuations (Oct. 20, 2026)
- KTBS: Large wildfire prompts evacuations in Columbia County, Arkansas (Oct. 20, 2026)
- KSLA: 150-acre wildfire somewhat contained northeast of Magnolia (Oct. 20, 2026)
- KATV: Wildfire near McNiel burns 150 acres; AFD, additional agencies respond (Oct. 20, 2026)