GLASGOW — A burn ban has been issued in Barren County.
Barren County Judge/Executive Micheal Hale said local fire chiefs and emergency management requested the ban due to increased risks associated with dry conditions and fire hazard conditions.
“I agree with them,” he said. “These folks are the ones who have to deal with this daily.”
Hale, a former firefighter, said autumn is one of the driest times of the year and often includes periods of high winds. Those combinations with fire can lead to large blazes that consume fast.
The ban was issued Wednesday afternoon from the Barren County Government Center. It maintains a complete ban on open fires anywhere in Barren County until further notice. The only exception is at established campgrounds.
While this ban is for Barren County only, the Kentucky Wildfire Hazard Season went into effect statewide on Oct. 1. It lasts through Dec. 15. It is not a ban but a restriction.
The hazard season prohibits burning within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except when the ground is covered in snow.
“It’s about keeping our community safe and about keeping these folks safe that go out here and battle this every day,” Hale said.
