Smoke from Controlled Burn Impacts Mountain Home and Twin Lakes Area

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Smoke from a controlled burn within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest in southern Baxter County and neighboring Stone County has impacted visibility across the Mountain Home and Twin Lakes area on Saturday morning. The U.S. Forest Service is conducting a prescribed burn operation in the Sylamore Ranger District, treating approximately 2,305 acres to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat, and help control insects and disease. Residents in the surrounding communities have reported heavy smoke overnight and into the morning.

Why it matters

Prescribed burns are a common forest management tool, but the resulting smoke can create visibility and air quality issues for nearby towns and cities. This incident highlights the need for effective communication between land management agencies and local communities to mitigate the impacts of controlled burns.

The details

The U.S. Forest Service is carrying out the prescribed burn within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, west of the town of Calico Rock. The operation is taking place in the Rorie North burn block, which covers approximately 2,305 acres. Smoke from the burn has drifted into the surrounding communities, including Mountain Home and the Twin Lakes area, leading to reduced visibility for residents overnight and into Saturday morning.

• The prescribed burn operation began on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
• Smoke from the burn was first reported impacting visibility in Mountain Home and surrounding areas overnight into Saturday morning.

What’s next

The U.S. Forest Service will continue to monitor the prescribed burn and provide updates to the local community on the smoke impacts.