September 18, 2026

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM), through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), has received a completed request for aviation resources to support coordinated wildfire suppression efforts on the Bunker Fire in Calhoun County. The State of Mississippi and the State of Oklahoma provided two Chinook helicopters equipped with 2,000-gallon Bambi buckets to assist state and local agencies.

“We appreciate Mississippi and Oklahoma for joining Arkansas in this coordinated mission. Their aviation support strengthens state and local agencies’ ability to contain the Bunker Fire,” said ADEM Director AJ Gary.

Mississippi has sent a five-person crew for a six-day mission, and Oklahoma has sent a six-person crew for a five-day mission. These deployments enhance Arkansas’s wildfire response through coordinated multi-state aviation operations. The missions begin Friday, September 18.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters, and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.