Fire departments throughout Grayson County have responded to multiple grass and woods fires over the last several days even though a Kentucky Department of Forestry (KDF) daytime burn ban is in effect until April 30.
Not all of the fires, which have ranged from small nuisance fires to large woods fires, have been started by careless burning, as some of the blazes have likely been initiated by discarded cigarettes and other factors.
On Monday afternoon at approximately 3:00, the Leitchfield and Caneyville Fire Departments responded to the 200 block of Duvall Road (off Rabbit Flat Road) to a large woods fire that threatened a nearby residence.
Upon firefighters arriving on scene, they found fire spread over a large, densely wooded area and progressing up a steep hill toward a home. Firefighters surrounded the blaze, extinguishing the fire in about an hour, before it reached the home.
Leitchfield Fire Chief Tim Duvall said the fire damaged 15 to 20 acres of land.
Daytime burn ban
The KDF prohibits burning within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the spring wildfire season.
State officials urge anyone burning debris during allowable hours to use caution and attend the fire until it is extinguished.
The KDF has responded to over 95 wildland fires since January 1, with over 50 wildfires burning in Kentucky as of two weeks ago. The largest of those fires was in Fleming County on Goddard Mountain.
Many of the wildfires have been attributed to debris burning, according to a statement from KDF.
The penalty for violating the burn ban is a maximum $500 fine.
(All photos of large fire off the 200 block of Duvall Road)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
