Fire departments in Grayson County over the weekend worked multiple woods and grass fires as the lack of rain turned the area into a tinder box, complicated by windy conditions.
Sunday afternoon at approximately 12:30, the Caneyville and Leitchfield Fire Departments responded to Center Street in Caneyville and found a woods fire was threatening multiple structures, including several residences.
The large fire spread over a hillside from Center Street north toward Hwy 62, consuming about 10 acres.
Two mobile homes, both used for storage, were destroyed. Two vehicles parked in a wood line just off Center Street were also burned.
Firefighters worked for over three hours to contain the fast-moving fire, stopping the blaze from damaging residences and outbuildings on Center Street, and a duplex just off Hwy 62.
It’s unclear how the fire began.
The blaze was discovered by Caneyville Fire Chief Brian Pharris after his wife, Kara, was driving in Caneyville near the Western Kentucky Parkway and saw heavy smoke coming from the Center Street area.
Other woods/grass fires over the weekend
The Leitchfield Fire Department on Friday night at approximately 9:45 was dispatched to Pleasant View Road (originally, firefighters were sent to the 99-mile marker of the Western Kentucky Parkway) for a grass/woods fire that consumed nearly 20 acres. It took firefighters about 90 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
LFD also battled a woods fire in the 4800 block of Anneta Road beginning at 3:30 Saturday afternoon. It took firefighters about two-and-a-half hours to bring the blaze, which imperiled a residence, under control.
The fire burned about a dozen acres.
On Sunday afternoon around 2:30, the Anneta Fire Department responded to a grass fire that got out of control while a property owner burned garbage in the 400 block of Meredith Ridge Road. Firefighters saved a mobile home, as the fire nearly reached the structure.
The fire burned between two and three acres.
The Leitchfield and Falls of Rough Fire Departments battled a grass/woods fire in the 400 block of Pleasant Run Road Monday morning at approximately 2:20. The fire burned near a barn but firefighters were able to save the structure.
The fire burned a little more than three acres.
Elevated fire danger on Monday
The National Weather Service has issued an “Elevated Fire Danger” alert for Monday in Grayson County.
“Gusty south winds are expected to increase through the late morning and early afternoon. Afternoon wind speeds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph are expected,” the NWS said.
Low relative humidity this afternoon, combined with ongoing moderate drought conditions, will result in an elevated fire danger, NWS officials said.
Of course, all of Kentucky is under a daytime burn ban until December 1.
(Headline photo: Caneyville firefighter battling trailer fire off Center St.)
(All photos from Sunday afternoon fire between Center St. and Hwy 62 in Caneyville)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
