Forest fires flare back up

Staff Writer

Less than a month after forestry officials extinguished forest fires across the county that burned hundreds of acres, fires are popping back up.

Yesterday alone, two forest fires threatened homes in Pike County. One, at Ridge Point of Cowpen, came within 100 feet of a home, causing a response from the Coal Run Volunteer Fire Department, and, later, the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

Another fire required response from the Millard-East Shelbiana Volunteer Fire Department and the division of forestry, and came close to a few homes at Kendrick Fork of Upper Chloe Creek.

Two fires were also reported in Pike County on Tuesday, according to District Forester Dexter Conley. After looking at three of the four fires, he said, the division has made the decision that two, including the one at Cowpen, were started unintentionally because of burning debris. Another, reported Tuesday off U.S. 23 near Fords Branch, was an apparent arson, he said.

When contacted, he was en route to the Upper Chloe Creek fire and did not yet know the cause.

The conditions, Conley said, are just right for forest fires, despite recent rains.

“Anytime you’ve got two to three days after a rain, it’ll be dry enough to catch fire,” he said. “It’ll surprise you.”

While he said the fires right now are easier to fight than the fires in October and November because the ground is wetter, the leaves sitting on top of the ground are dry and will catch quickly.

Forest fire season is officially over, but Conley said people still need to use caution when burning.

In October and November, forest fires, accelerated by drought conditions blazed across the county, with one, at Elkhorn City encompassing more than 400 acres alone.

Most of those fires were attributed to arson, one of which resulted in an indictment against 19-year-old Joseph Simms of Elkhorn City for allegedly setting the 400 acre fire. No charges have been filed in the other fires.

If anyone has any information about arson fires, they are encouraged to contact the Kentucky Division of Forestry at (606) 478-4495.