CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

INEZ — Kentucky will enter its fall wildfire hazard season Oct. 1, ushering in statewide restrictions on outdoor burning that remain in place through Dec. 15.

State law (KRS 149.400) bars residents from burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of woodland or brushland.

Officials say the seasonal limits imposed each fall and again in the spring help to reduce the risk of wildfires at a time when dry conditions make them most likely to spread.

Nearly all wildfires in Kentucky are caused by human activity, according to the Division of Forestry. Arsonists deliberately set more than half, while the second leading cause is debris fires that escape their boundaries.

Officials urge residents to act quickly if a debris fire gets out of control by contacting the local fire department and the nearest forestry field office. Report suspicious acts of arson to the nearest law enforcement, Kentucky State Police post or the Kentucky Target Arson Hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON.

To report an active wildland fire, call 911, the local fire department or the Division of Forestry. The number for the forestry field office serving Martin, Johnson and Lawrence counties is 606-783-8625. For Floyd and Pike counties, the number is 606-435-6073.