Only hours after a Burn Ban was issued by Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson, the Leitchfield Fire Department responded to an intentionally set sawdust fire in the 900 block of West White Oak Street.
Wednesday night at 8:30, LFD responded to the fire located at least 200 yards off the road in an old rock quarry. Firefighters battled the blaze for about 90 minutes and utilized a city-owned backhoe to move the piles of burning debris away from a tree line and other dry vegetation.
LFD Chief Tim Duvall said the run made the “sixth or seventh time” that LFD has responded to an intentionally set fire at the location this year. He said the suspect will be given a $500 fine.
Duvall further stated that the fire had been burning for a few days (prior to the issuance of the Burn Ban) and that the suspect, who has been identified, will not be cited to court. But, if the suspect again sets fire to sawdust at that location she will be cited to Grayson County District Court where she will face additional fines.
The Burn Ban was issued as an Emergency Order from Henderson’s office on Wednesday as extremely dry weather over the last several weeks, combined with a overly wet 2018 (which promoted the growth of vegetation), have combined to create a tinder box effect in Grayson and many other Kentucky counties.
No injuries were reported and firefighters cleared the scene at 10:15.
(Photo: The location of the intentionally set sawdust fire)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
