Most of the smoke lingering in the valley Thursday was from thousands of acres of prescribed burns. The smoke was trapped by an unexpected inversion layer that prevented it from dissipating. The air quality index showed levels considered “very unhealthy” in some areas Thursday.
A fire started late Thursday afternoon on Backbone Ridge near Bella Vista. It was reported around 5:30PM off Backbone Road burning at a moderate rate of spread in Oak and timber woodland. Forward progress was stopped quickly at around 2.5 acres.
-Steve Gibson