The 2022 Ky Forest Fire Fall Fire Season is now in effect and runs from October 1st to December 15th. This is enacted by the KY Division of Forestry. While this season is in effect, if you are within 150" of a wooded area, you are only permitted to burn between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM.

During this period, natural vegetation will become dormant and there will be less rainfall making it easier to burn. The reason for the permitted time of day is because, in late evening and overnight, winds are lighter, the tempature is lower and the relative humidity is higher, all making it harder to sustain a wildland fire. Also, during this time, there are more volunteer firefighters available to respond in the event of a fire getting out of control.

If you do choose to open burn during this time, remember there are some precautions that should be followed. First, only natural vegetation can be burned. Tires, trash, plasics and other manufactured materials are illegal to burn and could result in a fine from the Division of Air Quality. Keep fires small enough to manage. If you have a lot of material to burn, do it in multiple smaller burns. Keep fires away from other combustible materials such as buildings, vehicles or trees and clear an area around your burn to prevent spread. Have suitable precautions to extinguish and control your fire such as a fire extinguiser, garden hose or buckets of water. Also you must attend any fire until it is completely extinguished.

This is a fire season and is different from a burn ban which can complete inhibit some or all burning. Burn bans can be put in place by County or State officals in the event of a long term drought or deteriorating fire conditions such as long term dry condtions coupled with predicted high winds.

Please follow the above precautions any time you are open burning and apply common sense before making a decision to burn. If you have questions or are unsure if you should burn, call you local fire department for advice or answers to any questions regarding open burning. You can call Chief David Noe at (502) 376-3171.