KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
The fall forest fire hazard season officially ended Monday, but
officials with the Kentucky Division of Forestry continue to urge
caution when conducting any kind of outdoor burning.
“Kentucky’s forests have weathered serious storms over the past few
years and the increase in dead and fallen trees are of particular
concern for fire suppression efforts,” Leah MacSwords, director of the
Division of Forestry, said in a news release. “We were fortunate to
receive timely precipitation this fall, which kept the fire dangers
low.”
Since Jan. 1 of this year, 1,399 fires have burned 40,251 acres across
the state. While arson continues to be the leading cause of wildfires
in Kentucky, many regions of the state showed an increase in debris
fires.
Forestry officials reported these numbers as causes for this year’s
wildfires: 900 arson fires, 305 debris fires and 194 fires due to
lightning, faulty equipment and other causes. The increase in debris
fires is likely due to the accumulation of dead trees and limbs from
storm damage.
The danger of setting fire to debris piles and fence rows is often
underestimated and the potential for these fires to spread to the woods
is much higher than in years past due to the condition of our woods.
For more information about fire hazard seasons, outdoor burning laws and
safe debris burning practices, contact the Kentucky Division of
Forestry at (800) 866-0555 or visit the division’s website at
http://forestry.ky.gov/.
Citizens should also check with the Kentucky Division for Air Quality,
the Kentucky Division of Waste Management and local agencies to ensure
that you are obeying all outdoor burning laws.
