Fall Fire Season on the Daniel Boone National Forest

Fall Fire Season on the Daniel Boone National Forest

WINCHESTER – With the start of Kentucky’s fall forest fire hazard season this Saturday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service encourages visitors to take care to recreate responsibly and reduce their risk of starting a forest fire.

“As fall weather moves in and temperatures drop, we expect that more and more of our visitors will want to gather around a campfire when camping in the Forest,” said Andy Pascarella, Daniel Boone National Forest Fire Management Officer. “Making sure that those campfires are properly built, monitored, and extinguished is vital to preventing forest fires on the National Forest.”

Abandoned or escaped campfires are one of the most common causes of wildfire activity on the Daniel Boone National Forest. To prevent a campfire from causing an accidental forest fire, the Forest Service recommends:

Building campfires in existing fire pits or in clear spaces at least 15 feet away from branches or shrubs.

Avoiding campfires in windy conditions where embers can easily be carried to nearby fuels.

Never leaving a campfire unattended or letting it grow out of control.

Ensuring a campfire is completely extinguished before leaving by covering it with dirt or water, stirring the ashes around, and dousing it again. If the ashes still feel warm to the back of a hand, repeat the process until they are cold.

Visitors are encouraged to report abandoned or uncontrolled campfires to local law enforcement. Suspicious acts of arson should be directed to the nearest Kentucky State Police post or the Target Arson Hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON.

“More than 99% of Kentucky forest fires are caused by human activity,” said Pascarella. “From now through the end of fire season on December 15, we ask our visitors to help us keep the Forest and our neighboring communities safe by following burn restrictions, properly extinguishing campfires and avoiding activities that may create a spark.”

Kentucky’s fall fire season runs October 1 to December 15. During this time, state law prohibits burning in or within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland on state or private lands from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local officials may also issue burn bans that further restrict burning within the county. Campfires on the National Forest are an exception to these rules unless a ban is issued by the Forest Supervisor.

For more information on Kentucky Forest Fire Hazard Season and burn restrictions, visit the Kentucky Department of Forestry website at https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry

For more information on the Daniel Boone National Forest, visit their website at www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/danielboonenf, or Twitter at www.twitter.com/DanielBooneNF