These Were Kentucky’s Worst Wildfire Seasons and 2026 Is Heating Up

Land Between the Lakes Fire

A weekend wildfire at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area has been contained after consuming 450 acres. Believed to be human-caused, the fire remains under investigation. Crews from the Fordsville and Rosine Fire Departments were dispatched to help control the blaze.

Coupled with recent fires in eastern Kentucky, the 2026 spring fire season has proven to be far more active than we might have anticipated, considering how wet springtime weather is in the Ohio Valley.

Largest Wildfire Seasons in Kentucky History

• 1987 – 300,000 acres
• 2001 – 180,000 acres
• 2016 – 71,000 acres
• 2023 – 15,000 acres

I once thought raging wildfires were relegated to the western United States because that part of the country is so dry. But those beliefs were abandoned in 1987 when fires led to 300,000 acres being burned. At the time, I knew of the fires but not that enormous number. In the fall of 1987, fires that burned across 13 states, including Kentucky and neighboring West Virginia, created something of a shroud of brown smoke over New York City.

Kentucky Fire Seasons - 2001, 2016, 2023

In November 2001, crews from 26 states were dispatched to Kentucky to help battle a massive blaze that was part of the fall fire season that saw nearly 180,000 acres burn. Two months of dry weather had made Appalachia vulnerable to arson; five individuals were arrested in connection with that fire.

In 2016, more November wildfires ultimately led to 71,000 acres being burned during that year's fall fire season. And in 2023, crews came from the western U.S. to lend their services to eastern Kentucky firefighters; that fire scorched 15,000 acres.

While the worst of these instances happened in the fall, it is important to remember that there are two Kentucky fire seasons...February 15-April 30 and October 1-December 15.

You'll find Kentucky's outdoor burning laws at eec.ky.gov.