Ouachita National Forest Prescribed Burn Slopover Dozer Fire 2026

While working a slopover on a prescribed fire on the Ouachita National Forest, a dozer operator made the decision to disengage due to the number of spot fires in the area. As he was backing the dozer, it died. Upon exiting the dozer, the operator noticed a small fire under the machine. He engaged the fire with a fire extinguisher, but meanwhile noticed more fire inside the engine compartment. He emptied the rest of the first fire extinguisher at this fire, and used another fire extinguisher from a nearby UTV, but to no avail. The fire quickly grew and the operator moved to a safe location as the dozer burned. It is thought that the fire in the engine compartment was ignited by embers sucked into the air cleaner system, which is comprised of flammable paper filters and plastic housing components.