LITTLE ROCK, AR — Arkansas is getting extra wildfire-fighting support from Mississippi and Oklahoma as crews keep working to contain the Bunker Fire in Calhoun County. State emergency managers say the added help includes Chinook helicopters fitted with 2,000-gallon Bambi buckets, a tool designed to dump large amounts of water quickly on active flames.
The aviation missions are set to begin Friday, September 18. Officials said the deployments are intended to strengthen suppression efforts as state and local agencies continue their response to the fire.
Helicopters with 2,000-gallon buckets join the response
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said both Mississippi and Oklahoma are sending Chinook helicopters to support the operation. Each aircraft is equipped with a Bambi bucket that can carry 2,000 gallons, giving fire crews another way to attack hot spots from the air.
Air support can be especially useful when flames are difficult to reach from the ground or when crews need to slow a fire long enough for firefighters to build containment lines. In this case, the helicopters are part of the broader effort to suppress the Bunker Fire while ground crews continue their work in Calhoun County.
Mississippi and Oklahoma are sending crews for separate assignments
Along with the aircraft, Mississippi is sending a five-person crew for a six-day assignment. Oklahoma is sending six people for a five-day mission. The state said the personnel will help support the aviation response while the wildfire continues.
Those time frames show that the mutual aid response is limited and organized around a specific operational need. The crews are not being sent indefinitely; instead, they are scheduled to work for a defined stretch as the fire-fighting effort continues.
Emergency compact allows states to share resources during disasters
The deployments are being coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, an agreement that lets states provide resources to one another during emergencies. The compact is often used when a state needs equipment, personnel, or specialized help that may not be immediately available at home.
In this case, Arkansas is tapping that system to bring in aviation assets and crews from neighboring states. Officials did not describe the full size of the fire in the information released, but they made clear that the additional support is aimed at improving the response in real time.
ADEM says extra support will help state and local agencies
Arkansas Division of Emergency Management Director AJ Gary said the outside help will strengthen the ability of state and local agencies to contain the fire. His comments underscore how the response is being built around coordination between local responders and arriving mutual-aid resources.
The Bunker Fire remains the central incident drawing the additional assistance. With the aviation missions starting Friday, the state’s wildfire response now includes not only Arkansas resources but also personnel and aircraft from Mississippi and Oklahoma.
What the Bunker Fire response means for Calhoun County
For Calhoun County, the new deployments mean more capacity to battle the wildfire from above as crews keep working on the ground. The use of Chinook helicopters allows water to be dropped quickly over targeted areas, which can help slow fire spread and support containment efforts.
The response also shows how states can pool resources when an emergency stretches local capabilities. Arkansas officials have framed the assistance as a direct boost to suppression efforts, with the goal of helping crews bring the Bunker Fire under control more effectively.
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