A huge forest fire in Big Clifty on Wednesday, the first major fire in Grayson County where a drone was utilized, may have been started by a controlled burn the day before.
The fire, which ate up about 60 acres of mostly woodland (down from the initial estimation of 100 acres burned), was overly difficult to battle due to uneven, hilly terrain, downed trees, thick underbrush, and changing winds.
Assisting firefighting efforts, though, was the use of a $30,000-plus drone recently purchased with grant money by GC Emergency Management. The drone, complete with an infrared camera and accompanying large computer module — which aided in monitoring the fire’s movement — was deployed by Emergency Management’s Blake Schroerlucke multiple times over the expansive and shifting fire.
Schroerlucke, with assistance from Clarkson Fire Chief Andy Cain, was able to pinpoint the exact location of the spreading fire, as firefighters both fought the blaze head-on and attempted to make a fire break around the seemingly never ending line of fire.
The Kentucky Division of Forestry arrived with a bulldozer at around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon with the intention of assisting with digging a fire break. But within minutes of the equipment hitting the ground a hydraulic line ruptured, rendering the dozer inoperable.
Forestry officials, though, summoned another dozer that successfully made a fire break around the blaze.
Firefighters were finally able to clear the scene at 8:45 Wednesday night, as Forestry officials stayed with and monitored what remained of the fire during the overnight hours.
How the fire began?
A person who lives near where the fire began told K105 that a large field adjacent to the densely wooded area that burned Wednesday was burned off Tuesday by the property owner. That gives rise to the possibility that embers from the Tuesday burn off may have started the Wednesday blaze.
Of course, Grayson County and the rest of Kentucky are under a daytime burn ban until April 30.
During a daytime burn ban, it is illegal to burn anything within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The potential fine for violating a daytime burn ban is $500.
State fire officials recommend before conducting any outdoor burning, regardless of season, to check with local fire departments and/or county government to learn about controlled burn restrictions and local ordinances.
(Headline photo: Still photo of drone footage)
Blake Schroerlucke deploying a drone over the massive forest fire in Big Clifty.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
