Despite the Flooding and Snow, Spring Wildfire Season is Upon Us

The annual spring wildfire season began on Friday, February 14th. Govenor Andy Beshear is urging all Kentuckians to make sure all precautions are taken to safeguard their homes and protect natural areas.  

He says that we can all help protect our Kentucky home, following the guidelines not only during wildfire season, but throughout the year. He wants us all do our part to keep our families safe while protecting our parks, trails and natural areas for future generations.

Spring wildfire season lasts until April 30 and is in effect throughout the state. The law prohibits any burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of woodland or brushland. The burning of debris at any time is discouraged, however, residents considering debris burning should exercise caution and consider all factors to help maximize the safety of people, property and the forest. 

According to the Division of Forestry Director and State Forester Brandon Howard, anytime a citizen decides to burn brush, they should make that decision by using all the information available to them. Monitoring weather patterns, paying special attention to humidity levels, winds speeds, and being alert to red flag warnings issues by the National Weather Service. Informed decisions about outdoor burning increases the safety of our firefighters and our communities, as under the right conditions a spark can spread quickly and endanger lives and property

Remember to check local ordinances, state air quality, and state waste management regulations before conducting any outdoor burning. The Division for Air Quality has many outdoor burning restrictions. 

For more information on ways that you can safeguard your home and community from catastrophic wildfires, visit the Division of Forestry’s website at https://eec.ky.gov.