Firefighters in eastern Kentucky continue to battle a growing number of forest fires, including a massive fire in Breathitt County, as dry weather and windy conditions turn Kentucky into a tinder box.
A fire has burned more than 1,000 acres in Breathitt County, according to the Watts Caney Fire Department. The fire, officials said, has been burning for three days.
Along with local fire departments, the Kentucky Division of Forestry is working to contain the blaze.
As of Wednesday night, no homes had been destroyed by the fire and no injuries had been reported.
Breathitt County Judge-Executive Jeff Noble on Wednesday issued a total burn ban for the county.
One wildfire contained, another erupts in Estill Co.
Estill County remains under a state of emergency as one wildfire, which Estill County Emergency Management said burned 635 acres, has been contained while another wildfire sprang up on a mountain near Ravenna, a town of fewer than 1,000 residents just under two miles south of Irvine.
The contained fire impacted areas in Pitts, Ticky Fork and Betsey Ridge, Estill County officials said.
Leitchfield FD responds to eight calls on Wednesday
The Leitchfield Fire Department on Wednesday responded to eight grass/woods fires, with many of the calls for mutual aid in Breckinridge County.
LFD Chief Tim Duvall said the fires in Breckinridge County were not reachable by brush trucks, resulting in Leitchfield FD providing side-by-sides and manpower to help contain the fires.
Duvall also noted that he does not like to take resources out of the county, but Breckinridge County fire departments, including McDaniels and Hardinsburg, sometimes assist LFD with water support and manpower on fires on the north side of Grayson County.
With continued dry conditions forecast for Thursday, and temperatures in the mid-70s with low humidity, Duvall expects another busy day.
The entirety of Kentucky remains under a Kentucky Department of Forestry Daytime Burn Ban (no burning between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) until December 15. There’s a maximum $500 fine if found in violation of the burn ban.
(Photo: Breathitt County wildfire fire, courtesy of WYMT.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com