Todd County Burn Ban Lifted, but There’s a Catch...
Todd County's burn ban was lifted last week, allowing residents to resume outdoor burning without concern over the county's restricting them. But as Todd Emergency Management Director Ash Groves explained to the Todd County Fiscal Court on October 23rd, the end of the countywide ban does not mean residents can burn whenever they want.
“The county burn ban has been lifted since the 15th of October,” Ash said. “However, we are still under the state burn ban, which runs every year.”
This information is important for residents who have been waiting for an opportunity to burn brush, leaves and other accumulated yard debris.
From a Countywide Ban to Limited Burning
On September 3rd, Todd County Emergency Management announced an immediate countywide burn ban in response to severe to extreme drought, extreme heat and very low humidity.
The ban prohibited open burning of any kind. That included burning leaves, brush, grass, trash and construction debris. Agricultural burning, campfires, recreational fires, burn barrels, outdoor fireworks and pyrotechnics were also prohibited under the announcement.
More than a month later, rainfall brought some relief. In an October 15th announcement, Todd County Emergency Management reported that the county had received approximately 1.6 inches of rain since the previous evening.
The countywide ban was lifted effective at 6 p.m. that day. Officials determined that the statewide restrictions provided adequate protection while allowing outdoor burning during permitted hours.
The change did not eliminate the need to follow Kentucky's seasonal burning restrictions.
The 150-foot Question
Kentucky's fall forest-fire hazard season runs from October 1 through December 15. During this period, state law restricts burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of woodland or brushland.
Ash said he continues to receive questions from residents trying to understand what that 150-foot requirement means.
“And I get a lot of phone calls about what is 150 feet,” he told Fiscal Court.
He encouraged residents to consider the conditions around them rather than relying on distance alone. Even when a burn pile is far enough away from nearby woods, wind can carry embers into dry grass and start a fire.
Although the rainfall prompted the county to lift its ban, Ash said conditions remained extremely dry at the time of his report.
“You may be 150 feet away from something, but if a cinder gets out and gets into the grass, it's not going to matter,” he said.
The concern is not simply where a fire starts, but whether it can spread beyond the area where it was intended to burn.
Let Dispatch Know Before you Burn
Another point Ash emphasized was the importance of notifying dispatch before starting a controlled burn.
When someone sees smoke or flames and reports a fire, dispatchers may have no record of a planned burn. As a result, firefighters may be sent to investigate what appears to be an uncontrolled fire.
Todd County Emergency Management's October 15th announcement instructed residents to call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 270-265-2501 before conducting a controlled burn.
The announcement also advised residents to check weather conditions before starting a fire, keep fires attended, have water and appropriate firefighting tools readily available, and completely extinguish fires before leaving the area.
Ash acknowledged that many residents have brush and refuse piles they would like to burn, adding that he has one himself. He asked residents to take the necessary precautions and use good judgment.
“I just ask you to be smart about it, be careful, make sure you're within the limitations that are in the state burn ban, make sure dispatch knows you're burning,” he said.
He also warned that notifying dispatch does not eliminate the risk of a fire escaping. Wind and dry vegetation can still turn a controlled burn into a fire that requires a response.
Restrictions Are Still in Effect
The lifting of Todd County's local ban followed rainfall that officials determined was sufficient to allow limited outdoor burning under the statewide restrictions. It did not mean the risk of fire had passed.
Residents should check for any new local restrictions before burning and consult Kentucky's official guidance if they are unsure whether a planned fire is permitted.
For more information, visit the following sites:
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet's open-burning guidance
Kentucky Division of Forestry's county burn-ban page.
You can also follow Todd County Emergency Management's Facebook page for direct updates.
