Crews Battling Massive Wildfire at Land Between the Lakes

Just before noon, forest service crews at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area responded to a wildfire that had spread across 30 acres.

Land Between the Lakes Wildfire

Located on Forest Service Road 337 near FSR 141, the blaze had impacted the North/South Trail, which is closed. The LBL Forest Service warned visitors to avoid the area and be mindful of fire crews and their equipment. The fire has now spread across 150 acres.

Noting that, at the time, the fire was only 20% contained, WPSD-Paducah posted this image.

Fire Season Restrictions

According to the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet, fire season, despite the wet winter, began on February 15th and will end on April 30th. During this period, burning anything within 150 feet of woodland areas or brushland is illegal between 6 AM and 6 PM. Although that leaves 12 hours unregulated, the EEC strongly recommends that no one burn anything unless the air has enough moisture and is calm.

Eastern Kentucky Fires

The Land Between the Lakes wildfire comes on the heels of more forest fires in eastern and south central Kentucky. It was just a couple of days ago when WKYT-Lexington's Victor Puente posted this sobering image from Somerset, Kentucky.

The Eddyville Fire Department, here, is likely echoing the wishes and advice of agencies across the Commonwealth.

Considering how often we've dealt with an overload of wet weather this time of year in western Kentucky and the Ohio Valley, it's probably a surprise that we're experiencing conditions dry enough to make a shocking number of concurrent fires possible.